By special Correspondent
Finland officially joined NATO on Tuesday— thanks to Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who played important role in letting Finland be a member of the most powerful and trusted military alliance consisting of thirty countries.
The Finish flag was hoisted at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels amid a dignified ceremony attended by the representations of the world’s most powerful and technologically advanced countries.
Finland’s inclusion in NATO is a significant shift in Finland’s foreign policy and security posture. Joining NATO would have both advantages and disadvantages for Finland, and it would require careful consideration of its relationship with Russia, as well as the potential consequences for regional stability and security.
NATO membership provides Finland with access to collective defense and security guarantees, as well as closer cooperation with other member states on defense and security issues. At the same time, it could also increase tensions with Russia, which has historically regarded Finland as part of its sphere of influence. It will be interesting to see how this decision plays out in the years to come and how it will affect the regional dynamics in Northern Europe.
NATO’s secretary General welcomed Finland’s inclusion terming it a wise decision.
“ NATO has been shielding member countries from all types of threats for almost 75 years and continues to do so. Since the war has returned to Europe, this great alliance is fully prepared to safeguard the member countries from threats. Finland has taken a great step in this regard,” Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg declared at the ceremony.
Stoltenberg earlier noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin had cited opposition to Nato’s eastward enlargement as one justification for invading Ukraine.
“He is getting exactly the opposite […] Finland today, and soon also Sweden will become a full-fledged member of the alliance,” Stoltenberg said in Brussels addressing a ceremony held on Tuesday to welcome Finland.
On the occasion, Finnish President Saul Niinisto said Finland’s most significant contribution to Nato’s common deterrence and defense would be to defend its own territory. There is still significant work to be done to coordinate this with NATO, he said.
“It is a great day for Finland and I want to say that it is an important day for Nato,” Niinisto said at a joint news conference with Stoltenberg.
The Kremlin said Russia would be forced to take “counter-measures” to Finland’s accession. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said the move raised the prospect of the conflict in Ukraine escalating further.