Finland set to join Nato in historic shift while Sweden waits

A view of the flags of Finland, Nato and Sweden during a ceremony to mark Sweden's and Finland's application for membership in Brussels, Belgium, on May 18, 2022.HELSINKI/BRUSSELS - Finland will become a member of Nato on Tuesday , completing a historic security policy shift triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while neighbour Sweden is kept in the waiting room.

The event marks the end of an era of military non-alignment for Finland that began after the country repelled an invasion attempt by the Soviet Union during World War Two and opted to try to maintain friendly relations with neighbouring Russia. After both those countries approved Finland's application last week, the final formal step on Helsinki's journey will come when Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto hands his nation's accession document to US government officials in Brussels.

Nato's surveillance flights by the US and other allied air forces have already began to circulate in Finnish airspace, the Finnish defence forces said. "I feel maybe a little conflicted about joining Nato because I'm not the biggest fan of Nato but at the same time even less a fan of Russia," said Henri Laukkanen, a 28-year-old financial assistant.

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