Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto confirmed on Sunday that the Nordic country would apply for the North Treaty Atlantic Organization (NATO) membership, despite Russia’s president warning it would be a mistake to do so.

The decision will pave the way for the 30-member Western military alliance to expand amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.

In a historic policy shift prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Nordic country is likely to submit a formal application for NATO membership on May 18 at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin made the announcement at a joint news conference at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki.

Sauli Niinisto said the move gives him security of mind and membership holds huge importance to the country. This is a historic day. A new era begins, the Finnish president said.

Finland’s decision to become a member of the NATO alliance is expected to be followed by a similar move from Sweden.

Yesterday, Finnish president Niinisto told Russian President Vladimir Putin about his intentions saying neutrality would be a mistake. The Russian invasion of Ukraine had changed the country’s security environment, he had said.

An expansion of the 30-country military alliance would be seen as a big blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Countries within the alliance are required to defend each other if any one of them is attacked.

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