China News Network, April 4 Comprehensive foreign media reported that on the 4th local time, the Finnish flag was slowly raised at NATO headquarters in Brussels. As a result, the Nordic country officially became the 4st member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

"The Finnish flag is raised at NATO headquarters for the first time"

On the same day, Finnish President Niinistö, Finnish Foreign Minister Haavisto and Finnish Defense Minister Antti Keikkonen attended the flag-raising ceremony.

Haavisto deposited the contract instruments of NATO membership with the U.S. representative in Brussels before the start of NATO's two-day meeting of foreign ministers. He also represented Finland at the NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the same day.

"This is a historic moment for us... We seek to promote stability and security throughout the Euro-Atlantic region. Haavisto said in a statement.

Infographic: NATO and Finnish flags fly over the Ministry of the Interior building in Helsinki, Finland, April 2023, 4.

On the 3rd, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said at a press conference that he welcomed Finland to become the 31st member of NATO and stressed that this is the fastest accession process in NATO's history.

Stoltenberg said, "I'm looking forward to... Raise the Finnish flag at NATO headquarters ... It will be a good day for the security of Finland, Northern Europe and NATO as a whole. ”

Stoltenberg also added, "Finland will bring a well-trained and well-equipped military force to NATO." In addition, he is sure that Sweden, which is still outside NATO, will also become a member of the organization.

The "accession" process of twists and turns

In May 2022, Finland and Sweden applied "hand in hand" to join NATO, but Turkey and Hungary opposed it. According to the protocol, NATO can only admit new members with the "unanimous consent" of 5 member states.

After several rounds of negotiations, Turkey, Sweden and Finland signed a memorandum of understanding at the end of June of the same year, confirming that Turkey agreed to support Sweden and Finland to join NATO, that Sweden and Finland would not support the Kurdistan Workers' Party, the Syrian Kurdish armed "People's Protection Units" and the "Gulen Movement", and agreed to lift restrictions on the export of defense equipment to Turkey.

Infographic: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg shows documents from Sweden and Finland applying for NATO membership.

But since then, Turkey has accused the two countries of failing to fulfil their commitments in accordance with the memorandum. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has publicly and harshly said, "As long as I am the head of state of the Republic of Turkey, we certainly cannot say 'yes' to countries that support terrorism joining NATO." ”

But since 2023, Turkey's attitude has changed, giving the "green light" to the process of Finland's accession to NATO. Mr. Erdogan changed his tune in January that Turkey was positive about Finland's entry into NATO, but not about Sweden. According to Turkey, Finland has done what is necessary to gain membership, while Sweden still has work to do.

After almost a year of coordination and waiting, Finland received the consent of all 2023 member states at the end of March 3 and announced its formal accession on April 30.

On the eve of Finland's "accession" ceremony, the Social Democratic Party led by Finnish Prime Minister Marin lost the parliamentary election on the 2nd, and Peter Olpo, chairman of the Finnish National United Party, will become the next prime minister and form a new coalition government. Olpo said "critical, major and important" issues such as joining NATO, revive the economy, boost growth and create jobs would be written into the government's plan.

The Wall Street Journal said that the results of the Finnish parliamentary elections will not affect the country's accession to NATO. But joining NATO would mark Finland's break from decades of neutrality and embark on a completely new path.

As previously reported, once Finland becomes a full member, it will have the right to attend and speak at all NATO events, as well as participate in decision-making.

Infographic: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Photo by Sheng Jiapeng, reporter of China News Agency

The "historic restructuring" of the European continent

As a neighbor of Russia, Finland has a land border with Russia for about 1340,<> kilometers, and the country also has one of the most powerful artillery arsenals in Western Europe. According to Bloomberg, the immediate change brought about by Finland's accession is that the length of NATO's border with Russia has doubled.

The Associated Press previously commented that if Finland and Sweden "join" the treaty, it will be equivalent to a "historic reorganization" on the European continent.

Finland's becoming the seventh NATO member in the Baltic region will further strengthen NATO's military influence in the region, allowing NATO to further control the sea lanes between St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad by strengthening its surveillance of Russia's western flank with the help of Finland's trained military.

In addition, the strategic importance of the Arctic is increasing, Finland's military is trained in cold weather, and Finland will become an important "asset" of NATO's polar strategy.

Finland will also benefit from the collective defence clause under NATO Article V, which obliges any member state to provide assistance if it is subjected to an armed attack.

Russian media quoted Leonid Ivashov, director of the Russian Institute of Geopolitical Issues and retired colonel, as saying that after joining NATO, Finland will become "a non-independent country that embraces NATO troops."

Ivashov added that Finland's accession to NATO will increase the number of armed forces bordering Russia from 5,30 to <>,<>, and this situation will prompt Moscow to strengthen its military presence on the border by deploying multiple divisions, air defense systems and certain types of missile weapons.

Infographic: Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Russia: will strengthen its military forces

Since Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO, the Russian side has put forward a variety of countermeasures in addition to warnings. For example, the deployment of military balloons on the Russian-Finnish border, and the continuous combat duty of troops stationed near St. Petersburg.

According to RIA Novosti, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Glushko responded to Finland's formal "accession" on the 3rd, "We will strengthen our military forces in the western and northwestern directions." If the troops and resources of other NATO members are deployed in Finland, we will take further steps to effectively ensure Russia's military security. ”

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has also said that "appropriate countermeasures" will be taken, including the formation of 12 divisions in the Western Military District.

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federal Security Council Dmitry Medvedev previously said that if Sweden and Finland join NATO, Russia will "no longer be able to discuss the denuclearization status of the Baltic region" or deploy nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles in the Baltic Sea in response.

Rob Bauer, chairman of the NATO Military Commission, said on the 3rd that Finland did not ask NATO members to station troops on Finnish territory. Bauer said Finland would be asked whether NATO would station troops in Finland.

In an interview, Bauer noted that "there is no such requirement yet." But of course there may be a future, when we will have to think seriously. (End)