WORLD NEWS
NATO membership is a top priority for several European countries. The 2022 attack by Russia on Ukraine, despite neither country being a member, has caused a significant shift in support for the alliance. As a result, Sweden and Finland have submitted formal applications to join.
On April 4, 2023, Finland became the 31st official member of NATO.
Finland formally joins NATO, becomes the 31st member https://t.co/ZMgmqMY0KJ pic.twitter.com/6B3aN7Urrt
NATO used to be much smaller, and it was only after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the break up of the Warsaw Pact, the communist equivalent to NATO, that the organization swelled to its current thirty-one member states.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party pledged its support for the ratification of Finland and Sweden’s NATO entry. This support is key for Finland’s incorporation and hopefully will lead the way for Sweden to join in the coming months.
This move comes after Turkey allowed Finland to become a member of NATO, but without its neighbor Sweden. “The Finnish flag will be raised for the first time here at the NATO headquarters […] a good day for Finland’s security, for Nordic security, and for NATO as a whole,” said NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg.
finland’s flag raised at nato hq
one for the history books pic.twitter.com/WwK4PMMoCc
An agreement had previously been struck between the two nations and Turkey, which had been vetoing their membership due to Sweden’s links to Turkey’s Kurdish minority community. Sweden is host to around 100,000 Kurdish refugees and Turkey wanted those linked to its proscribed terror groups to be sent to Turkey. Many of these groups were leading figures in the fight against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq such as the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union party (PYD) and People’s Protection Units (YPG). For the United States, the backbone and driver of NATO, the conflict between Turkey and Finland and Sweden has been uncomfortable since Washignton has financially assisted the YPG in confronting ISIS; even after Turkey has called on them to stop.
Welcome to NATO family, 🇫🇮 Finland!
We are proud to have you as an Ally. NATO is more united than ever and now with Finland’s full accession it’s stronger than ever. pic.twitter.com/LXfsrfdFKR
The largest group of European nations are those that profess their neutrality. Including nations such as Austria, Ireland, and Switzerland, some have military neutrality enshrined in their constitutions, or because of previous dealings with the great powers.
Some European nations have close cultural and economic ties to Russia, which usually keeps them out of NATO. Examples include countries like Armenia and Belarus, parts of the former Soviet Union. Ukraine could have been counted among this group until recently. Although not a member, it is considered a strategic partner by NATO due to its proximity to Russia —one of the prime reasons for Moscow’s insistence that the country be denied full membership.
Last steps before joining #NATO.
FM @Haavisto signed Finland’s instrument of accession to NATO.
#FinlandNATO pic.twitter.com/lRqOIVRDZ1
Kosovo was previously Europe’s newest nation, formed from a war in Serbia in 2008. NATO was and is instrumental in keeping the peace, meaning the alliance and Kosovo share a unique relationship. It is not a member but has made overtures to NATO in recent years about becoming one, including a request in February 2022 for a US military base in the country.
Cyprus is in a difficult position. It has professed its desire to join NATO, but the northern half of the country is occupied by Turkish-backed separatist rebels. Turkey, being a NATO member, is unlikely to allow Cyprus’ accession without a resolution to the stalemate.
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