Finland set to join NATO on Tuesday, Jens Stoltenberg says – National | 24CA News

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated Monday Finland will turn into the thirty first member of the world’s greatest navy alliance on Tuesday, and that he hopes its neighbor Sweden can take part coming months.

“This is a historic week,” Stoltenberg informed reporters on the eve of a gathering of NATO international ministers in Brussels. “From tomorrow, Finland will be a full member of the alliance.”

The former Norwegian prime minister stated that on Tuesday afternoon, “we will raise the Finnish flag for the first time here at the NATO headquarters. It will be a good day for Finland’s security, for Nordic security, and for NATO as a whole.”

Stoltenberg stated that Turkey, the final nation to have ratified Finland’s membership, will hand its official texts to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday. Stoltenberg stated he would then invite Finland to do the identical.

2:06Finland dedicated to becoming a member of NATO with Sweden regardless of Turkey’s opposition: PM Sanna Marin

Finnish President Sauli Niinist and Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen will attend the ceremony, together with Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto.

“It is a historic moment for us. For Finland, the most important objective at the meeting will be to emphasize NATO’s support to Ukraine as Russia continues its illegal aggression. We seek to promote stability and security throughout the Euro-Atlantic region,” Haavisto stated in an announcement.

The growth comes as Finnish voters gave a lift to conservative events in a weekend election, depriving left-wing Prime Minister Sanna Marin of one other time period.

0:34Finland should think about becoming a member of NATO with out Sweden: minister

Fearing that they is perhaps focused after Russia invaded Ukraine a 12 months in the past, the Nordic neighbors Finland and Sweden deserted their conventional positions of navy non-alignment to hunt safety below NATO’s safety umbrella.

All 30 allies signed Finland’s and Sweden’s accession protocols. Turkey and Hungary delayed the method for months however have relented on Finland. Turkey has sought ensures and assurances from the 2, notably on tackling extremism. Hungary’s calls for have by no means been specific.

NATO should agree unanimously for brand new members to hitch.

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