Finland makes a historic leap by joining NATO, but Moscow vows "countermeasures"

 In a momentous policy decision prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which drew a threat from Moscow of "counter-measures," Finland officially joined Nato on Tuesday, with its flag unfurling outside the military alliance's Brussels headquarters.

As the conflict in Ukraine rages on with no end in sight, Finland's admission approximately doubles the length of Nato's border with Russia and strengthens its eastern flank.

Pekka Haavisto, the foreign minister of Finland, handed a formal paperwork to US State Secretary Antony Blinken at the Nato headquarters to finish the accession process.

The 30 other members of the alliance's flag were raised beside Finland's, which has a blue cross on a white backdrop, as a military band played in the beautiful sunshine.

At the ceremony, Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said, "Our great alliance has protected our nations for almost 75 years and continues to do so today."

But now that conflict has returned to Europe, Finland has opted to join NATO and become a member of the most powerful alliance in the world.

Earlier, Stoltenberg pointed out that one of Vladimir Putin's justifications for invading Ukraine was his resistance to Nato's eastward expansion.

In Brussels, Stoltenberg declared, "He is getting exactly the opposite [...] Finland today, and shortly also Sweden will become a full fledged member of the alliance.

Saul Niinisto, the president of Finland, stated that defending its own territory would be Finland's most significant contribution to Nato's shared deterrence and defence.At the ceremony, Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said, "Our great alliance has protected our nations for almost 75 years and continues to do so today."

But now that conflict has returned to Europe, Finland has opted to join NATO and become a member of the most powerful alliance in the world.

Earlier, Stoltenberg pointed out that one of Vladimir Putin's justifications for invading Ukraine was his resistance to Nato's eastward expansion.

In Brussels, Stoltenberg declared, "He is getting exactly the opposite [...] Finland today, and shortly also Sweden will become a full fledged member of the alliance.

Saul Niinisto, the president of Finland, stated that defending its own territory would be Finland's most significant contribution to Nato's shared deterrence and defence.

He stated 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 and I want to emphasise that it is an important day for Nato."

Moscow would be forced to take "counter-measures," according to the Kremlin, in response to Finland's admission. According to Sergei Shoigu, minister of defence, the action increased the likelihood of a further escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.

In response to Finland joining NATO, Russia had declared on Monday that it will increase its military might in its western and northern territories.

The government of Ukraine applauded Finland's action as well. Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, posted on Telegram: "FI made the right decision. A major objective for Ukraine is NATO.

Military non-alignment must end

After Finland rejected a Soviet invasion attempt during World War Two and decided to try to retain amicable relations with neighbouring Russia, a period of military non-alignment began. This event marks the end of that period.

Finns sought security under NATO's collective defence agreement, which stipulates that an assault on one member is an attack on all, in response to the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, nevertheless.

Russia reacted angrily, having long criticised the action.

The Nato expansion, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, "encroaches on our security and on Russia's national interests."

He stated that Moscow would keep a keen eye out for any Nato military installations in Finland.

Moscow has observed successive waves of Nato enlargement to the formerly communist east of Europe with alarm since the conclusion of the Cold War three decades ago, and the topic was a source of dispute even before the invasion of Ukraine.

NATO has emphasised time and time again that it is only a defensive alliance and does not pose a danger to Russia. Since the war started, NATO nations have been supplying Ukraine with heavy weapons, according to Moscow, which is evidence that the West is determined to destroy Russia.

Being one of the only European nations to have kept a conscription army during decades of peace, apprehensive of Russia next door, Finland's entrance to NATO brings significant military assets accumulated over the years.

Furthermore, Finland's air, naval, and ground forces are all prepared and trained with one major objective in mind: to thwart any Russian onslaught.

Helsinki citizens said they felt more comfortable after Finland joined NATO as they commuted to work on Tuesday.

"I think Finland joining NATO is a good thing. Outi Lantimaki, a 59-year-old designer at a shipyard, claimed, "We have lived here next to Russia for millennia.

"This is like a personal issue to me because my father participated in the battle with the Russians."

About 150 kilometres from the Finnish border, in the Russian city of St. Petersburg, locals warned that Finland would be creating issues for itself by joining NATO.

"We had nice, neighbourly connections with Finland for a good while, so I don't believe this is a very pleasant thing. It has no basis for joining NATO. Nonetheless, I'm hoping for the best and that there won't be any negative military confrontations after this, said a local who went by the name of simply Alexi.

Along with its Nordic neighbour Sweden, Finland applied to join NATO last year. But, NATO members Turkey and Hungary have delayed the Swedish application.

Tobias Billstroem, the foreign minister of Sweden, told reporters that Stockholm hopes to join NATO at the July summit in Vilnius.

Turkey has demanded their extradition in order to ratify Sweden's membership, claiming that Stockholm harbours members of groups that Ankara regards as terrorist organisations. Sweden has refuted this claim.

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