Russia to Strengthen Border Defenses after Finland Joined NATO

Russia stated that it will reinforce its defenses near its 1,300km border with Finland after NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that the Nordic country would formally join the alliance on Tuesday.

“Tomorrow we will welcome Finland as the 31st member of NATO, making Finland safer and our alliance stronger,” Stoltenberg mentioned in Brussels on Monday. “We will raise the Finnish flag for the first time here at Nato headquarters.”

Finland’s accession was “good for Finland’s security, for Nordic security, and for NATO as a whole,” he added. “President Putin went to war against Ukraine with the clear aim to get less NATO. He’s getting the exact opposite.”

Meanwhile, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto will travel to Brussels to take part in the ceremony.

“It is a historic moment for us,” Haavisto noted in a statement after Stoltenberg’s announcement.

“For Finland, the most important objective at the meeting will be to emphasize NATO support to Ukraine as Russia continues its illegal aggression. We seek to promote stability and security throughout the Euro-Atlantic region.”