On its 74th birthday, NATO welcomes a new member to its ranks. Whereas the founding meeting in 1949 was held in Washington, the decision-makers are now meeting in Brussels to mark this historic event.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg sees no “better way” to celebrate NATO’s anniversary than by welcoming a new member into the defense alliance. At the time of its founding in 1949, the alliance still consisted of twelve members. Through successive enlargements, it now has 31 members. In addition, Finland’s neighbor Sweden is also interested in joining the alliance and has submitted a corresponding application. Further growth of the defense alliance is therefore on the horizon.
The Ukraine War as a Turning Point
The catalyst for Finland’s decision to become a member of NATO was the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, Stoltenberg explains. As such, the war marks a turning point in Russian-Finnish relations. This event, however, was preceded by a significant Russian military presence in Scandinavia and the Arctic. Moreover, Russia had already demonstrated in Georgia in 2008 and in Crimea in 2014 that it was prepared to take military action against neighboring states. Stoltenberg goes on to say that Russia’s attempt to push back and weaken NATO has spurred a diametrical development. He said it has welded the alliance together, brought it closer to its national borders and encouraged new members. “He is getting more troops in the eastern part of the alliance, more readiness, more forces on land, at sea and in the air,” Stoltenberg notes.
Furthermore, Stoltenberg attributes great strategic importance to Finland’s accession to NATO. Even a cursory glance at the map reveals Finland’s geopolitical importance in the Arctic and Baltic regions. In addition, NATO gains high end capabilities and an accomplished and advanced defense industry.
Jonas Brandstetter, editorial staff
