First NATO meeting with Finland as a member
The first 31-member NATO meeting began in Brussels on Tuesday, after Finland was officially welcomed into the Alliance. Finland’s welcoming ceremony took place on April 4, 2023. Then, the meeting of the foreign ministers of the NATO countries began in Brussels. The meeting of foreign ministers began with a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba. In this commission, the developments of the Russia-Ukraine war, the strengthening of the NATO states’ support for Ukraine, and the internal reform process in Ukraine are discussed. The NATO Foreign Ministers’ meeting will continue on Wednesday with a session of the North Atlantic Council. One of the topics to be discussed will be the preparation for the NATO summit in Vilnius. As a representative of Romania, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, will request the continuation of support for Ukraine’s neighboring countries. These countries are also vulnerable to Russia’s aggressive actions. First of all, the Republic of Moldova is targeted. Hybrid threats aimed at destabilizing the state and diverting its European course are already felt in the Republic of Moldova. Minister Aurescu will ask the allies to continue their support for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova through the NATO assistance packages for strengthening defense capacities (Defense Building Capacity, or DCB). Also, NATO must support Georgia, the Romanian minister believes. Georgia is a country in the Caucasus region, which is already affected by “frozen conflicts”.
Stoltenberg said Turkey, the last NATO country to have ratified Finland’s membership, will hand its official texts to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday. Stoltenberg said he would then invite Finland to do the same. The Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen will attend the ceremony, along with Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto. “It is a historic moment for us,” Haavisto said in a statement. “For Finland, the most important objective at the meeting will be to emphasize NATO’s support for Ukraine as Russia continues its illegal aggression. We seek to promote stability and security throughout the Euro-Atlantic region.” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Moscow would respond to Finland becoming a NATO member by bolstering its defenses. “We will strengthen our military potential in the west and in the northwest,” Grushko said in remarks carried by the state RIA Novosti news agency. “In case of deployment of forces of other NATO members on the territory of Finland, we will take additional steps to ensure Russia’s military security.” NATO must agree unanimously for new members to join. NATO officials are eager to bring Sweden into the fold before a NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, on July 11 and 12. “Sweden is not left alone. Sweden is as close as it can come to being a full-fledged member,” Stoltenberg said.
By Paul Bumman
