Finland officially joined NATO today as Moscow threatened “retaliatory measures” over the latest humiliation for Vladimir Putin.
Finnish ministers formally handed over documents to alliance Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at NATO’s Brussels headquarters - completing a process which began 11 months ago after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Finland, which becomes the coalition’s 31st member, shares a 832-mile border with Russia and its entry more than doubles the size of NATO’s frontier with Russia.
The move is a huge blow to Kremlin tyrant Putin, who has long complained about the nuclear-armed alliance’s expansion toward Russia.
Moscow claimed Finland's move marked "a fundamental change in the situation in Northern Europe, which had previously been one of the most stable regions in the world”.
The Russian Foreign Ministry warned: "The Russian Federation will be forced to take military-technical and other retaliatory measures to counter the threats to our national security arising from Finland’s accession to NATO.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Finland’s membership reflected the alliance’s anti-Russian course and warned Moscow will respond depending on what weapons NATO allies place there.
Mr Stoltenberg said Finland now benefited from NATO’s “iron-clad security guarantee” of Article V, under which all member countries vow to defend an ally under attack.
“By becoming a full-fledged member, we are removing the room for miscalculation in Moscow about NATO’s readiness to protect Finland, and that makes Finland safer and stronger, and all of us safer,” Mr Stoltenberg warned.
“Finland brings substantial and highly capable forces, expertise and national resilience and years of experience working side by side with NATO allies.
“At times like these, friends and allies are more important than ever - and Finland has the strongest friends and allies in the world.”
Mr Stoltenberg said Putin wanted to “slam the door shut” on NATO, but “today we show the world that he failed, that aggression and intimidation do not work”.
He added: “Instead of less NATO he’s achieved the opposite - more NATO - and our door is firmly open”.
Sweden’s application to join has been held up by Turkey, but alliance leaders believe it will go through in the coming weeks.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto welcomed “a great day for Finland”.
He said: “Security and stability are those elements which we feel very strongly and we can all think that people can live in secure, stable circumstances, that’s the basic element of happy life.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "This is an historic day for Finland and for NATO. Their accession has made our alliance stronger and every one of us safer.
"All NATO members now need to take the steps necessary to admit Sweden too, so we can stand together as one alliance to defend freedom in Europe and across the world."
In Brussels, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly hailed Finland’s membership as proof of the alliance’s success.
The Cabinet Minister said: “Today we see as a direct result of Vladimir Putin’s aggression and his illegal invasion of Ukraine the day where a new ally joins our defensive alliance.
“I think that is very positive.
“We will celebrate that today and then very quickly get to work on the accession of Sweden to this group of friends and allies.”
Mr Cleverly said NATO had never been “more relevant” nor “more united”.
Stockholm’s application has been delayed by Turkey but alliance leaders hope it can be agreed in the coming weeks.
Earlier, Mr Stoltenberg welcomed Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba to the alliance HQ.
The NATO chief said allies would discuss how to boost long-term support for Kyiv.
Mr Kuleba said: “I came to NATO to speed up deliveries of what has already been pledged to Ukraine, primarily artillery ammunition, infantry armoured vehicles, armoured personnel carriers - everything that Ukraine needs for a successful counter offensive.”
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