Finland has joined the NATO military alliance, dealing a major blow to Russia with a historic realignment of the continent triggered by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. 9News
The Nordic country's membership doubles Russia's border with the world's biggest security alliance and represents a major change in Europe's security landscape: The nation adopted neutrality after its defeat by the Soviets in World War II.invasion of Ukraine sent a shiver of fear through Moscow's neighbours.
It had also warned it would bolster forces near Finland if NATO sends any additional troops or equipment to what is its 31st member country.Neighbouring Sweden, which has avoided military alliances for more than 200 years, has also applied. But objections from NATO members Turkey and Hungary have delayed the process.
It said Finland's move marks "a fundamental change in the situation in Northern Europe, which had previously been one of the most stable regions in the world". It's not clear what additional military resources Russia could send to the Finnish border. Moscow has deployed the bulk of its most capable military units to Ukraine.
The country is now protected by what Stoltenberg called NATO's "iron-clad security guarantee", under which all member countries vow to come to the defence of any ally that comes under attack.But Stoltenberg refused to rule out the possibility of holding more military exercises there and said that NATO would not allow Russia's demands to dictate the organisation's decisions.
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