Finland officially becomes member of US-led NATO as Russia vows countermeasures

Finland has officially joined the US-led NATO despite repeated warnings from Russia, which vows countermeasures and plans to bolster its military capacity in its western and northwestern regions, near the border with the Nordic country if the alliance deploys any additional troops or equipment to its new member.

At the headquarters of the NATO in Brussels, a ceremony was held on Tuesday, during which NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken completed the final formalities of Finland's accession to the US-led transatlantic military alliance in front of the media.

"We can now declare that Finland is the 31st member of the North Atlantic treaty," Blinken confirmed, after Haavisto, who signed the agreement on Finland's membership of NATO, deposited the Nordic country's instrument of accession with his American counterpart.

Separately, Finland's President Sauli Niinistö also confirmed his country's membership in a statement.

"Finland has today become a member of the defense alliance NATO. The era of military non-alignment in our history has come to an end. A new era begins," he said.

"Each country maximizes its own security. So does Finland. At the same time, NATO membership strengthens our international position and room for maneuver. As a partner, we have long actively participated in NATO activities. In the future, Finland will make a contribution to NATO's collective deterrence and defense," Niinistö added.

In an apparent reference to Russia's deep concerns regarding NATO's expansion, the Finnish president stressed that "Finland's membership is not targeted against anyone. Nor does it change the foundations or objectives of Finland's foreign and security policy. Finland is a stable and predictable Nordic country that seeks peaceful resolution of disputes."

Russia says to boost military in NW regions as Finland joins NATO

Deputy Foreign Minister Grushko said Russia will strengthen military potential in the western and northwestern direction.

Russia's reaction to the new membership was strong on Tuesday, as the Kremlin warned that Finland’s NATO membership would force Moscow to take countermeasures.

"The Kremlin believes that this is another aggravation of the situation, that NATO expansion is an encroachment on our security, the interests of the Russian Federation. This is exactly how we perceive it. We will take countermeasures to ensure our own tactical and strategic security," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov at a press briefing.

He also stressed that the countermeasures that Moscow "deems necessary" would be taken, adding that the Russian Armed Forces would report on the response to NATO actions in the Nordic country.

"Believe me, our military will inform us about everything in a timely manner … We will carefully observe what happens in Finland, how the North Atlantic bloc will exploit the territories in Finland in terms of placing weapons, systems, and infrastructure that will be close to our borders and potentially threaten us. Depending on this, measures will be taken," Peskov further said.

Finland’s ascension to NATO adds one of Western Europe’s most potent wartime militaries to the US-led military alliance as well as the Nordic country's intelligence and border surveillance abilities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has on several occasions cited the post-Soviet expansion of NATO eastward toward Russia's borders as a reason for the military operation he declared in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Key to a list of Russian demands from the West prior to the war was a guarantee that Kiev would never be part of NATO.

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Fearing that they might be targeted after Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago, Finland and Sweden applied last year to join the US-led transatlantic military pact. In April 2022, the Kremlin warned that it would deploy nuclear weapons in the Baltic Sea region if the two European states join the 30-member military alliance.

All 30 allies signed Finland’s and Sweden’s accession protocols. Turkey and Hungary delayed the process for months but have agreed on Finland. Ankara has sought guarantees and assurances from the two Nordic states, notably on tackling what it calls extremism. Hungary's demands have never been explicit.

Finland shares a 1,340-kilometer eastern frontier with Russia. and now its border with NATO has doubled after Finland’s ascension to NATO.

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