Finland became the 31st member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on April 4, 2023, when it presented its instrument of accession to the ‘North Atlantic Treaty’ (Washington Treaty) with the United States (US) at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
- The accession of Finland coincides with the 74th anniversary of the signing of NATO’s founding treaty i.e. the ‘Washington Treaty’(which was signed on April 4, 1949).
- The accession is commemorated by a flag-raising ceremony at NATO headquarters and it also coincided with a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting.
On July 5, 2022, NATO Allies signed Finland’s Accession Protocol, following which all 30 national parliaments voted to confirm the country’s membership.
Backdrop
- Finland’s accession marks a significant shift in Europe’s security landscape, as the country proclaimed neutrality following its defeat by the Soviets (Now Russia) in World War II.
- However, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Finland’s authorities explicitly stated that they want to join NATO in May 2022.
Key Points:
i.Finland and Russia share a 1,340-kilometer (832-mile) border, hence Finland’s membership effectively doubles Russia’s border with the world’s largest security alliance.
ii.It should be highlighted that Finland, a Nordic country, would not receive any additional troops unless it requested assistance.
iii.Turkey was the last NATO member to ratify Finland’s accession protocol.
iv.Sweden, Finland’s neighbour and a country that has avoided military alliances for over 200 years, has also sought NATO membership, but opposition from NATO members Turkey and Hungary reportedly delayed the process.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
i.NATO is a political and military alliance of countries in Europe and North America.
- NATO was established on the Washington Treaty, also known as the North Atlantic Treaty.
- The Treaty was signed by 12 founding members on April 4, 1949, in Washington, D.C., United States (US).
ii.It establishes a unique link between these two continents, allowing them to consult and collaborate in the fields of defence and security, as well as implement multinational crisis-management operations together.
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About Republic of Finland:
President – Sauli Niinistö
Capital – Helsinki
Currency – Euro (EUR)
