Finland has officially joined NATO. Russia promises "countermeasures"
Finland on Tuesday officially became a member of the North Atlantic Alliance, completing a security policy shift triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while neighbouring Sweden is left to wait. While NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg speaks of "a historic day", Moscow promises "countermeasures", calling the North Atlantic Alliance's expansion a "security breach" for Russia.
"This is a new aggravation of the situation. NATO enlargement is a blow to our security and national interests," Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the press, as quoted by Agerpres.
The official says Moscow will carefully watch "everything that happens" in Finland and will act depending on the alleged threats the new NATO member will pose to Russia.
"Our military will react in due course," Peskov added.
For his part, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that Finland's accession to NATO as its 31st member and the intensification of NATO activities near the borders of Russia and Belarus create the risk of a major conflict spill-over into Ukraine, according to EFE.
"Of course, all of this creates risks of a significant widening of the conflict, but it will not affect the outcome of the special operation," he added, referring to the Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
The military alliance welcomed Finland as its 31st member in a flag-raising ceremony at NATO headquarters outside Brussels, attended by Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and government ministers.
"This is truly a historic day. It is a great day for the Alliance," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said ahead of the ceremony.
Stoltenberg said on Tuesday that the Alliance would not deploy troops on Finnish territory "without the consent" of the country, while Finnish Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen said the Helsinki government had not yet decided whether to request the deployment of NATO troops in Finland, reports EFE, quoted by Agerpres.
After three decades of military non-alignment, Finland officially joined NATO on Tuesday, a strategic shift prompted by Moscow's offensive against Ukraine. Finland's accession allows NATO to double the length of the border its members share with Russia, which Moscow considers highly unfavourable to it.
