Finland and Nato
Finland’s security environment changed fundamentally after Russia’s aggression against Ukraine in February 2022. After Russia’s aggression, Finland has reassessed its security policy situation. Finland is applying for NATO membership.
At its Madrid Summit on 29 June 2022, NATO leaders invited Finland to become a member of the Alliance. All of the NATO member countries signed Finland’s Accession Protocol on 5 July, and Finland became an observer member of NATO (invitee). As an invitee, Finland may participate in NATO meetings, but is not entitled to vote. Ratification is expected to last from a few months to one year.
Next in the accession process, all NATO countries have to ratify Finland’s Accession Protocol in accordance with their own national procedures, that is, to bring it into force in accordance with their own national procedures.
NATO membership would strengthen Finland’s security in the changed security environment and would also improve stability and security in the Baltic Sea region and Northern Europe. Finland’s strong defence capability and resilience to crisis would also strengthen NATO and the collective defence of the Alliance.
Through NATO membership, Finland would be a part of NATO's collective defence and, thus, would be covered by the security guarantees enshrined in Article 5 of the Treaty. As a member of NATO, Finland would participate in making decisions on security policy issues that are of key importance to Finland.
What is NATO?
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established in 1949. It is a multilateral political and military alliance and a key actor that advances transatlantic and European security and stability.
There are 30 member countries in NATO, and 21 of them are also members of the European Union. The most recent member, North Macedonia, joined NATO in spring 2020.
The principles of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are set out in the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty), which was signed in 1949. The Treaty consists of 14 Articles.
Collective defence is NATO’s most important task
NATO’s purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members by political and military means. Its core tasks include collective defence and deterrence, crisis management, and cooperative security together with other organisations and countries.
Based on Article 5 of the Treaty, an attack against one Ally is considered as an attack against all Allies. NATO (also referred to as the Alliance) maintains its member countries’ capacity to meet the obligation of mutual aid. This forms a credible deterrence against the use or threat of military force against the Alliance.
Each member country is obliged to assist in ways that it deems necessary, including the use of military force, any member country that is the target of aggression. Besides collective defence, NATO's core tasks also include crisis management operations and the maintenance of a broad partnership network.
NATO’s collective defence is based on an integrated military command structure, a collective defence planning process and exercises. This way NATO can defend its member countries should the need arise. NATO’s military structure receives political guidance from the member countries.
FAQ
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Finland’s NATO Accession Protocol was signed on 5 July 2022.
Finland can become a member of NATO once all NATO countries have ratified Finland's NATO Accession Protocol and notified the Government of the United States of America, which is the depositary of the Washington Treaty.
Countries that have ratified Finland's NATO Accession Protocol, situation on 11 October 2022
Country Protocol has been ratified The Government of the United States has been notified Albania ✓ ✓ Belgium ✓ ✓ Bulgaria ✓ ✓ Canada ✓ ✓ Croatia ✓ ✓ Czech Republic ✓ ✓ Denmark ✓ ✓ Estonia ✓ ✓ France ✓ ✓ Germany ✓ ✓ Greece ✓ Hungary Iceland ✓ ✓ Italy ✓ ✓ Latvia ✓ ✓ Lithuania ✓ ✓ Luxembourg ✓ ✓ Montenegro ✓ ✓ Netherlands ✓ ✓ North Macedonia ✓ ✓ Norway ✓ ✓ Poland ✓ ✓ Portugal ✓ ✓ Romania ✓ ✓ Slovakia ✓ ✓ Slovenia ✓ ✓ Spain ✓ ✓ Turkey United Kingdom ✓ ✓ United States ✓ ✓ Countries that have ratified Finland's NATO membership: 28/30
Countries that have notified the United States Government of their ratification: 27/30 -
As stated in the Report on Finland’s Accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) adopted by the Government, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to a fundamental change in the security and operating environment of Finland and Europe. Jointly agreed international commitments and principles of European security did not prevent war in Europe.
By joining NATO, Finland would strengthen its own security in the changed operating environment. Through NATO membership, Finland would be part of NATO’s collective defence and, thus, would be covered by the security guarantees enshrined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. The deterrent effect of Finland’s defence would be considerably stronger than it is at present. As a member of NATO, Finland would also participate in making decisions on security policy issues that are of key importance to Finland.
Finland’s defence capability and resilience would strengthen NATO’s collective defence throughout the territory of the Alliance. Indeed, the threshold for using military force in the Baltic Sea region and Finland’s neighbouring areas would rise.
NATO cooperation and Finland’s resilience
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Finland’s Accession Protocol was signed on 5 July, and Finland became an observer member of NATO (officially called an invitee).
The next step is for the NATO member countries to ratify the Accession Protocol in accordance with their national procedures. The ratification procedures and their duration vary in the member countries.
NATO’s decision-making procedure is based on consensus, i.e. unanimity. NATO does not vote or make majority decisions. Each member country participates in decision-making on an equal basis. When important national interests are involved, member countries can put NATO’s decision-making processes on hold.
Finland’s NATO accession process
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Should Finland become a NATO member, it would continue to maintain and develop its own national defence capability as well as its bilateral and multilateral defence cooperation. Finland would continue to decide on the principles governing the implementation of its military national defence.
Being a NATO member country would not mean that general conscription would be discontinued. Possible membership would improve Finland’s military security of supply and the overall crisis preparedness of society.
Being a NATO member country would not have a bearing on how extensively Finland would take part in NATO’s crisis management operations.
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If Finland were to become a NATO member country, Finland would be prepared to support other NATO member countries in a possible Article 5 situation. The expected level of Finland’s contribution to NATO’s collective defence would be discussed between Finland and NATO in connection with the accession talks.
Deployment of Finnish troops to NATO operations would always be decided at the national level. In addition, separate decisions would be made on Finland’s possible participation in NATO’s peacetime missions to support collective defence and deterrence .
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Being a member country would not oblige Finland to accept nuclear weapons, NATO permanent bases or troops in its territory. For example, in the early stages of their membership, founding members Norway and Denmark imposed unilateral restrictions on their membership and have not permitted permanent troops, bases or nuclear weapons of the Alliance in their territory during peacetime.
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It is difficult to give a precise answer to how long the accession process might take. After the accession talks are completed, the NATO member countries must ratify the Accession Protocol based on their national procedures. Different member countries have different ratification procedures and their duration varies from country to country. NATO’s accession process has lasted a year or more for acceding countries in the past.
It is important for a country interested in joining NATO to hold preliminary discussions with NATO member countries. Over the course of this spring, the Finnish state leadership has discussed the changes in the security environment with partners.
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The annual additional cost of Finland’s possible NATO membership would be approximately 1–1.5 per cent of Finland’s current defence budget. At this point, this would mean around EUR 55 to 60 million a year.
NATO member countries have also jointly agreed on a target to spend at least two per cent of their GDP on defence expenditure, which would mean maintaining Finland’s defence budget at approximately the current level.
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NATO member countries retain their national right to self-determination, and decisions in NATO are taken by consensus.
As a full member, Finland would participate in NATO’s security policy consultations and in developing NATO’s role as a foreign and security policy actor, and would commit to the North Atlantic Alliance politically. The relations between NATO and Russia would also become a part of Finland’s relationship with Russia.
New member countries accede to the North Atlantic Treaty with full rights and obligations. The most significant effect for Finland, if it were to become a NATO member country, would be that Finland would be part of NATO’s collective defence and be covered by the security guarantees included in Article 5 of the NATO Treaty. Finland’s defence would have a deterrent effect that would be considerably stronger than it is at present, as it would be based on the capabilities of the entire North Atlantic Alliance.
Finland has participated in NATO Partnership for Peace cooperation since 1994. The partnership has been deepened since then.
Finland also participates in NATO-led crisis management operations to promote stability and security. Being a NATO member country would not involve major changes in the level of Finland’s participation in NATO’s crisis management operations.