Finland officially Joins NATO, Russia shocked
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Tuesday, Finland has officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to become the 31st member of the NATO security alliance.
Finland’s acceptance into the US-led security alliance shocks Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was always trying to undermine the NATO.
The length of Russia’s border with NATO member states has now doubled.
“This will make Finland safer and NATO stronger,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters.
Finland and Sweden formally applied to join NATO in May 2022 prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, but they were met with huge rejection from Turkey and Hungary.
Turkey had rejected the two Nordic countries’ bid for NATO membership under the pretext that they support the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the Democratic Union Part (PYD) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG).
Full unanimity is required to admit new members into the 30-member alliance, and Turkey and Hungary were the last two NATO members to ratify Finland’s accession.
Sweden’s bid to join the alliance, meanwhile, has been left hanging, with both Turkey and Hungary holding out on giving it the green light despite expressing support for NATO’s expansion.
On March 31, Turkey’s parliament ratified Finland’s application to join NATO, clearing the way of the Nordic country to become member of the Western military alliance.