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Added on the 05/04/2023 11:23:26 - Copyright : France 24 EN
NATO foreign ministers meet in Brussels the day after Finland officially joined the Atlantic Alliance, becoming its 31st member, in a historic realignment of Europe's defences spurred by Russia's war on Ukraine. IMAGES
Finland's flag flies high for the first time at NATO headquarters, as the country officially joined the US-led defence alliance in a historic realignment of Europe's defences that drew an angry warning of "countermeasures" from the Kremlin. Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine last year upended Europe's security landscape and prompted Finland -- and its neighbour Sweden -- to drop decades of military non-alignment. IMAGES
The NATO flag flies in front of Finland's foreign ministry in Helsinki, as the country becomes becomes the 31st member of the US-led alliance. Last year, the Kremlin's all-out invasion of Ukraine upended Europe's security landscape and prompted Finland to drop decades of non-alignment. IMAGES
Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen hails a "big day for Finland" says as the Nordic nation becomes the 31st member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in a historic shift that drew an angry warning of "countermeasures" from the Kremlin. Moscow's all-out invasion of Ukraine last year upended Europe's security landscape and prompted Finland -- and its neighbour Sweden -- to drop decades of military non-alignment. IMAGES
"NATO becomes stronger, Finland becomes safer" says NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as Finland becomes the newest memeber of the military alliance. SOUNDBITE
Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson says the "northern flank of NATO is more complete" as he holds a press conference with his Norwegian and Finnish counterparts in Troms, Norway. Swedish troops are taking part in a vast NATO military exercise to simulate repelling an invasion of neighbouring Norway. SOUNDBITE