Last Minute(Live Broadcast): Finland Joins NATO as the 31st Member of the Alliance
Last minute: Finland, which applied for membership to NATO together with Sweden on the Russia-Ukraine war, officially joined NATO after Turkey handed over its certificate of approval to the United States. Thus, Finland became the 31st member of NATO.
Turkey handed over the document confirming Finland’s NATO membership to the USA, the custodian of the 1949 North Atlantic Treaty.
BECOME THE 31st MEMBER OF NATO
With the delivery of the certificate of accession to President Sauli Niinistö, it officially became the 31st member of NATO. Foreign ministers of NATO countries met at headquarters in Brussels, where a ceremony was held for Finland’s admission to NATO membership.
“OUR PURPOSE IS TO PREVENT CONFLICT, NOT PROVOKE”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement, “Finland’s NATO membership is a historical event. No NATO force will be deployed in Finland without Finland’s consent. Our aim is not to provoke conflict, but to prevent it.”
“WE WANT TO SEE SWEDEN ALSO”
Stoltenberg expressed his desire for Sweden to join NATO after Finland. “We would like to see Sweden as the 32nd member soon,” Stoltenberg said.
EXPLANATION FROM TURKEY
Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu posted on his social media account, “We discussed our relations with the US Minister of Foreign Affairs. We delivered Finland’s NATO accession approval document to the US, which kept its membership documents in accordance with the NATO Founding Treaty.” shared.
KREMLIN: WE WILL TAKE AGAINST MEASURES
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitriy Peskov evaluated Finland’s membership in NATO, in a statement to reporters in the capital Moscow. Pointing out that they view NATO’s enlargement negatively in terms of Russia’s interests and security, Peskov said, “We believe this will further increase the current tension. NATO continues to be an institution that is hostile to Russia in many ways.” used the phrase. Emphasizing that Russia will take various steps regarding Finland’s NATO membership, Peskov said, “We will take countermeasures to ensure our own security tactically and strategically. These measures will be taken as we see fit.” he said.