FINLAND'S PRESIDENT SAULI NIINISTO SIGNS FINLAND'S NATIONAL NATO LEGISLATION.
Finland is set to become the 31st member of NATO after its application was approved by Turkey.
The move brings an end to Finland's tradition of nonalignment and rebalances power between Russia and the West.
Finland's accession to NATO will double the size of the military alliance's border with Russia.
- Gaining access to Finland's airspace, ports, and military will bolster NATO's strategic position amid ongoing tensions with Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
- Russia's Embassy in Sweden warned on Wednesday that any country that joins NATO will "become a legitimate target for Russia’s retaliatory measures, including military ones."
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- Sweden and Finland put in their applications to join NATO last May.
- Most of NATO's member states, including the U.S., support the accession of Sweden and Finland to the alliance, but the final decision requires the approval of all members.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan initially threatened to block Finland and Sweden from joining NATO due to allegations that the countries harbor Kurdish militants considered by Turkey to be terrorists.
- Turkey and Hungary continue to block Sweden's admission to NATO.
