- Finland becomes the 31st member of NATO, gaining security guarantees and deterrence.
- Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto handed Finland's accession document to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
- Finland's addition will double NATO's eastern flank, adding over 1,300 kilometers of border with Russia.
- Finland's military is trained for cold weather, making them an important asset for NATO's defense of Arctic nations.
- Russia branded Finland's accession to NATO as yet another "aggravation" of the standoff between Russia and the West.
Finland Joins NATO as Defense Alliance Expands Northward
Finland became the 31st member of NATO, completing a tumultuous process of accession sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that upended the European security landscape.
Kati Pohjanpalo
