Finland today becomes 31st member of the I’LL TAKE and with it another country of the Alliance borders with Russia something that, paradoxically, has been one of Moscow’s constant concerns in the area of its security. “This forces us to take countermeasures to guarantee our security,” said the spokesman for the Russian Presidency, Dmitri Peskov, referring to upon Finland’s entry into the Atlantic Alliance and the fact that the border between this and Russia double now. Finland’s accession to the I’LL TAKE It has been accelerated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. It has gone hand in hand with the Swedish candidacy, but the latter country has met with reluctance from Turkey, which does not want to ratify it until Sweden do not extradite people that Ankara considers linked to terrorist organizations. These are the most relevant facts of the Finland’s accession process to NATOto a large extent parallel to that of Sweden which, however, has not yet been completed:February 24, 2022: Russia invade Ukraine and the I’LL TAKE invokes article 4 that is activated when one of the member countries is threatened. Although he announces that he will not intervene, he indicates that he will have a deterrent role.February 25, 2022: Russia denounces the efforts of the West to include Finland and Sweden in the Atlantic Alliance and warns regarding the serious consequences that their entry into the organization would have.1 March 2022: The Government of Finland announces the shipment to Ukraine of 2,500 assault rifles, 150,000 pieces of ammunition and 1,500 anti-tank weapons, in a historic decision that marks the first exception to Finland’s policy of neutrality.March 14, 2022: Finns’ support for their country’s entry into the I’LL TAKEwhich already reaches 62% and represents a drastic change with respect to the traditional position in favor of neutrality.
14 April 2022: Russia threatens to deploy nuclear weapons in the Baltic if Sweden and Finland enter the I’LL TAKE.28 April 2022: The I’LL TAKE would welcome Sweden and Finland “with open arms” if they apply to join the organization, says its secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg.12 mayo 2022: The President, Sauli Niinistö, and the Prime Minister, Sanna Marin, support Finland’s entry into NATO, in a decision that breaks with more than eight decades of non-alignment.18 mayo 2022:Sweden and Finland apply to join the Atlantic Alliance.June 28, 2022:Turkey lifts the veto for these two countries to enter the Organization, one day before the start of the NATO summit in Madrid.6 julio 2022:The 30 ambassadors of the NATO countries sign the accession protocols of Finland and Sweden.November 5, 2022:The I’LL TAKE says that Sweden and Finland they meet the Turkish conditions, which are to lift the arms embargo on Turkey and modify its anti-terrorism laws.December 24, 2022:Turkey requires both countries to meet the conditions to enter the Alliance, which are: stop giving refuge to groups that it considers terrorists, both the PKK, the Kurdish guerrilla in Turkey; the Kurdish militias or the Gülen Islamist sect, which he accuses of the failed 2016 coup.January 30, 2023: Finland insists on entering with Sweden despite the fact that Turkish President Recp Tayyip Erdogan wants to separate the accession process of both nations.
February 1, 2023: Türkiye supports the entry of Finland but it objections to Sweden following the burning of copies of the Koran by a Swedish-Danish far-right, first in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm and later in Copenhagen.February 14, 2023: The secretary general of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, says that “the main thing” is not whether both countries enter “together” but that they become members “as soon as possible”.February 27, 2023:Turkey confirms a meeting with Sweden and Finland on March 9 in Brussels and Stoltenberg insists that they meet all the requirements.1 March 2023:The Finnish Parliament approves by a large majority the entry into the Alliance.March 9, 2023:Türkiye, Sweden and Finland They recognize advances for expansion.March 17, 2023:Türkiye gives the green light to the entry of Finland but not to that of Sweden, whose accession negotiations will continue.March 22, 2023:The Swedish Parliament approves by a large majority the entry into the I’LL TAKE.4 April 2023: Finland becomes a full member of the I’LL TAKE. (EFE)
