Finland joins NATO

Finland became the thirty-first member state of NATO on 4 April 2023, when Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto handed over Finland’s instrument of accession to NATO to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Brussels.

According to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Finland’s accession to NATO is a historic event for our northern neighbours, the Baltic Sea region, and NATO in general. ‘It is also an important day for Estonia. Estonia and Finland have always been close friends and now, we are NATO allies. This will strengthen our common security as well as the security of the whole Euro-Atlantic region,’ said Kallas. ‘Finland’s membership of NATO also means that we will have new opportunities to strengthen our bilateral defence cooperation. Estonia and Finland are closer than ever before.’

Finland joined NATO on a symbolic day, 4 April, when NATO members also celebrate NATO Day each year. The North Atlantic Treaty, or Washington Treaty, establishing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, was signed 74 years ago.