Finnish president confirms country will apply to join NATO alliance

Finland will be applying for NATO alliance in the near future, Finnish President confirmed recently. With increasing pressure from Russia, Finland is edging closer towards US and NATO's umbrella

Finland will apply for membership in the NATO military alliance, the country's president, Sauli Niinisto, confirmed on Sunday, in a historic policy shift prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow, which shares a 1,300 km (800 mile) border with Finland, has said it would be a mistake for Helsinki to join the 30-strong transatlantic alliance and that it would harm bilateral ties.

Sweden is also expected to follow suit as public support for membership has grown amid security concerns. Sunday's announcement comes after Niinisto and Finland's prime minister, Sanna Marin, said on Thursday they both favoured membership in NATO (the North Atlantic