Finland formally confirms its intention to join NATO

Finland has formally confirmed it intends to join NATO, abandoning decades of military non-alignment in a historic decision triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Report informs via The Guardian.

“Finland is applying for NATO membership,” said the country’s president, Sauli Niinistö, at a press conference. “A protected Finland is being born as part of a stable, strong and responsible Nordic region. We gain security and we also share it. It’s good to keep in mind that security isn’t a zero-sum game.”

The prime minister, Sanna Marin, said the proposal would now be sent to parliament for ratification. “Our decision is historic,” she said. “As a member of NATO, we will also be responsible for the security of the alliance as a whole.”

With neighboring Sweden’s ruling party also holding a decisive meeting on whether to join the 30-member defensive alliance next week, Moscow’s onslaught on Ukraine looks set to usher in the expansion of NATO that Vladimir Putin claimed he wanted to prevent.

Finland shares a 1,300km border with Russia and, like Sweden, has maintained strict policies of neutrality then non-alignment since the end of the second world war, viewing NATO membership as a provocation of Moscow.

However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 has led to a profound change in its thinking, with public support for NATO accession trebling to about 75%. Polls show a majority of between 50 and 60% are also in favor in Sweden.