Finland has joined NATO in a historic shift triggered by the war in Ukraine, prompting anger in Russia where officials have cast the move as a threat.<\/p>\n
The Finnish flag was raised at the Brussels headquarters of the world\u2019s largest military alliance on Tuesday afternoon, almost a year after Helsinki officially applied to join.<\/p>\n
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto earlier completed the accession process by handing over an official document to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken; the United States Department of State is the repository of NATO texts concerning membership.<\/p>\n
Jens Stoltenberg, head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), hailed \u201ca good day for Finland\u2019s security, for Nordic security and for NATO as a whole\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will make Finland safer and NATO stronger,\u201d he said. \u201cThis has been the fastest accession process in NATO\u2019s history.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finland President Sauli V\u00e4in\u00e4m\u00f6 Niinist\u00f6 said membership was not \u201ctargeted against anyone\u201d, adding his country was \u201cstable and predictable\u201d.<\/p>\n
Finland applied in May, alongside Sweden, as fears of Russian aggression rose in northern Europe following Moscow\u2019s invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n
\u201cFinland\u2019s membership is not complete without Sweden,\u201d said Niinist\u00f6. \u201cI look forward to Sweden joining us as the 32nd member.\u201d<\/p>\n
Neighbouring Sweden, which had avoided military alliances for more than 200 years, is being stalled by objections from NATO members Turkey and Hungary.<\/p>\n