Finland is poised to become the 31st member of NATO, a process that was initiated by Russia's annexation of Crimea and invasion of Ukraine, causing a significant shift in the European security landscape.
Although this move will give Finland access to the Article 5 security guarantees, it also means leaving its neighbor, Sweden, behind. While NATO seeks to increase its presence in the Arctic and gain more influence in the Baltic Sea, adding Finland will double the alliance's eastern flank with more than 1,300 kilometers of border with Russia.
The Finnish military has already prepared itself for all-out war and is ready to defend its allies. Despite the fact that Russia is currently tied up in its war in Ukraine, NATO's allies do not want to underestimate Moscow's ability to re-arm after the conflict.