:watermark(https://f.pmo.ee//logos/4132/d583334e07b643b158b745b655f05032.png,-2p,-2p,0,18,none)/nginx/o/2023/04/03/15237113t1h9479.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1 "Russia Vows to Strengthen Military in Response to Finland’s NATO Membership")
“We will strengthen our military potential in the western and northwestern direction,” said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko.
“In the event that the forces and resources of other NATO member states are deployed on the territory of Finland, we will take additional measures to guarantee Russia’s military security,” Grushko said.
Russia and Finland share a land border of 1,300 kilometers.
Finland and Sweden, alarmed by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, abandoned their decades-old policy of neutrality last year and submitted an application to NATO for admission to the alliance last May.
Finland will officially become the 31st member of NATO already on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Sweden’s application has not yet been approved by two NATO countries – Hungary and Turkey. They were also the last two countries to approve Finland’s application last week.
