inland’s flag will be hoisted at Nato’s headquarters in Brussels as the country formally becomes a member of the alliance in a “historic” moment later on Tuesday.
The country’s accession to the military alliance is a blow for Vladimir Putin, as it dramatically increases the border Russia shares with a Nato country.
Finland, which shares a more than 800-mile border with Russia, applied to join Nato alongside Sweden after Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will join Nato ministers for a joining ceremony.
The Kremlin on Tuesday said it would be forced to take “countermeasures” over Finland joining Nato and claimed it was an “encroachment” on Russia’s security.
Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance would ensure that Sweden will also become a fully-fledged member.
“President Putin had as a declared goal of the invasion of Ukraine to get less Nato,” he told reporters ahead of a meeting of the alliance’s foreign ministers.
“He is getting exactly the opposite… Finland today, and soon also Sweden will become a full fledged member of the alliance.”
Finland will become Nato’s 31st member and represents the end of Finland’s military non-alignment.
Under Nato collective defence arrangements, an attack on one member is considered an attack on all members.
Finnish reservists pictured in March
/ AFP via Getty ImagesIn Helsinki, Nato flags have been raised along with Finland’s own national blue-and-white flag at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Until now, we have defended our country alone,” the country’s defence minister Antti Kaikkonen told public broadcaster YLE on arriving in Brussels.
“From now on, we can rely on getting outside help should things get tough. And of course, we are ready to help should someone be in trouble.”
The ceremony in Brussels falls on Nato’s birthday, the 74th anniversary of the signing of its founding Washington Treaty on April 4, 1949.
Sweden’s application has been held up by Nato members Turkey and Hungary.
Turkey says Stockholm harbours members of what Ankara considers terrorist groups – which Sweden denies – and has demanded their extradition as a step toward ratifying Swedish membership.
Hungary is also holding up Sweden’s admission, citing grievances over criticism of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s democratic record.
