Finland officially became the 31st member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Tuesday, marking a major shift in the security landscape in northeastern Europe that adds some 1,300 kilometers to the alliance's frontier with Russia.
The Nordic nation's accession was sealed during a formal ceremony at the NATO headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday.
Finland's acceptance into the US-led security alliance presents a blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has long sought to undermine NATO, and before invading Ukraine, demanded the bloc refrain from further expansion. "We will strengthen our military capabilities in the west and northwest if NATO members deploy forces and equipment on Finnish territory," Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
It includes the protection offered by NATO's Article 5 principle, which states that an attack on one member of NATO is an attack on all members. It's been a cornerstone of the 30-member alliance since it was founded in 1949 as a counterweight to the Soviet Union.The country is no stranger to working with NATO, with its troops regularly participating in NATO exercises under a partner status.
The Wilson Center report also noted Finland's strong cyber security record, pointing out the country is home to Nokia,"a major provider of 5G infrastructure," and one of three major providers of 5G infrastructure in the world, along with Sweden's Ericsson and China's Huawei.
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