Finland joins NATO in historic shift,
Brussels/Helsinki, 4 April (Reuters) - In a historic
policy shift brought on by Russia 's
invasion of Ukraine , which
drew a warning from Moscow of
"counter-measures," Finland
officially joined NATO on Tuesday, with its flag unfurling outside the military
alliance's headquarters in Brussels
As the war in Ukraine
drags on with no end in sight, Finland 's
accession, which ends seven decades of military non-alignment, approximately
doubles the length of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's shared border
with Russia
and strengthens its eastern flank.
The 30 other members of the alliance's flag were
raised alongside Finland's, which is a blue cross on a white background, as a
military band performed in the bright spring sunlight.
At the event, NATO Secretary-General Jens
Stoltenberg said, "This great alliance has shielded our countries for
almost 75 years and continues to do so today. But now that war has returned to
Europe, Finland
has chosen to ally with NATO and take part in the successful alliance that
leads the world.
Earlier, Stoltenberg pointed out that one of
Vladimir Putin's justifications for invading Ukraine
NATO's eastward expansion.
He is receiving the exact opposite, according to
Stoltenberg, who added that Sweden
and Finland
will shortly join the alliance as full members.
Saul Niinisto, the president of Finland , stated that defending its own territory
would be Finland
most important contribution to NATO's shared deterrence and defense. He said
there is still a lot of coordination with NATO to be done.
At a joint press conference with Stoltenberg,
Niinisto said, "It is a great day for Finland
is an important day for NATO."
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