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What is Nato and why is Finland joining? What is Nato and when will Ukraine join?
(3 months later)
In joining Nato, Finland is ending seven decades as a non-aligned country. Nato, the West's defensive alliance, has confirmed Ukraine can join, but has not said when.
Finland shares a long border with Russia. It applied to join the defensive alliance soon after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Speaking during the Nato summit in Lithuania, the Ukrainian President Zelensky said the lack of clarity was "unprecedented and absurd".
What is Nato? Which countries are in Nato?
Nato - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - was formed in 1949 by 12 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and France.Nato - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - was formed in 1949 by 12 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and France.
Finland is the 31st country to join. The organisation has two official languages, English and French. In French, the alliance is known as Otan, Organisation du Traité de l'Atlantique Nord.
Nato members agree to help one another if they come under attack. It currently has 31 members across Europe and North America.
The organisation's original goal was to challenge Soviet expansion in Europe after World War Two. They agree to help one another if they are attacked.
After the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, many of the Eastern European countries which used to be its allies in the Warsaw Pact were granted Nato membership. Nato's original goal was to block Soviet expansion in Europe after World War Two.
Russia (which was formerly part of the Soviet Union) has long argued that Nato's acceptance of Eastern European countries threatens its security. It has vehemently opposed Ukraine's request to join the alliance, fearing this would encroach too closely on its territory. After the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, many Eastern European countries joined the alliance: Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Why is Finland joining Nato? Will Ukraine join Nato?
Finland has a 1,340km (832 mile) land border with Russia. Nato said in 2008 that Ukraine could join at a future date, but declined its September 2022 request for "fast-track" membership.
In 1948, it agreed to be a neutral country as part of a "friendship agreement" with the Soviet Union. Under article 5 of Nato's charter, if one member is attacked, the others must come to its defence.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, it edged closer to Nato, becoming an "official partner" of the bloc in 1994. Were Ukraine to join during the current conflict with Russia, all Nato member countries would also have to declare war on Russia.
Soon after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, both Finland and Sweden asked to be given full entry to Nato as soon as possible. At the Vilnius summit in July, Nato said that it will invite Ukraine to become a member "when allies agree and conditions are met".
Finland adds 257,250 regular and reserve troops to Nato's forces, and 107 combat aircraft. It also said that Ukraine could skip a step in the entry process called the Membership Action Plan.
What hurdles did Finland face in joining Nato? However, Nato has not set out a timeframe for Ukraine's entry.
All the parliaments of Nato member states have to agree to a new country joining the alliance. Ukrainian President Zelensky accepts his country cannot join Nato while it is at war with Russia, but wants it to happen as soon as possible after fighting ends: "Nato will give Ukraine security. Ukraine will make the alliance stronger."
Finland and Sweden applied to join Nato together, but Turkey and Hungary have not yet approved Sweden's entry. Russia has consistently and strongly opposed the idea of Ukraine joining Nato, fearing it would bring the alliance's forces too close to its own territory.
They were the last two member states to approve Finland's membership as well, Turkey on 30 and Hungary on 27 March. Nato shows Ukraine it can't get everything it wants
Turkey's government had delayed allowing Finland to join, complaining that it supported "Kurdish terrorists". Which other countries are joining Nato?
Turkey's Erdogan seals deal on Finland joining Nato Sweden applied to join Nato in April 2022, along with Finland.
It is still blocking Sweden's membership, accusing it also of harbouring Turkey's enemies and allowing anti-Turkish demonstrations on its streets. Finland has a 1,340km (832 mile) land border with Russia. Both countries were concerned about growing Russian aggression following the Ukrainian invasion.
How are Nato countries supporting Ukraine? Finland joined Nato in April 2023, but for many months Turkey and Hungary refused to approve Sweden's application.
Many of the alliance's member states have provided Ukraine with weapons and ammunition to help it defend itself against Russia.. Turkey accused it of hosting its enemies, including pro-Kurdish groups.
The US is sending 31 Abrams tanks, the UK 14 Challenger 2 tanks, Germany 14 Leopard 2 tanks and Norway eight Leopard 2 tanks. However, before the latest summit, Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said that Sweden had addressed "Turkey's legitimate security concerns", and that the Turkish government would ask its parliament to approve membership.
The US has also sent armoured fighting vehicles such as the Stryker and the Bradley. He said Hungary would do the same.
In addition, the US and UK have sent Ukraine long-range missile systems such as Himars, which have been striking targets behind Russia's front lines. However, it is not known when the Turkish and Hungarian parliaments will vote, or when Sweden might officially be admitted.
Sweden hails historic step as Turkey backs Nato bid
How Sweden and Finland went from neutral to Nato
What weapons are Nato countries supplying to Ukraine?
The US is sending Ukraine cluster bombs - weapons containing so-called "bomblets" which explode across a wide area.
The bombs are controversial, because of the harm they might do to civilians.
The US is also supplying Ukraine with 31 Abrams tanks. The UK has sent 14 Challenger 2 tanks, while Germany and other Nato countries have donated dozens of Leopard 2 tanks.
The US and UK have provided missiles such as Himars, which have been used to hit targets behind Russia's front lines.
A Himars launcher under tree cover in eastern UkraineA Himars launcher under tree cover in eastern Ukraine
Several Nato countries have provided howitzers and self-propelled guns, while Turkey has sold Ukraine several Bayraktar TB2 drones. Nato countries are also supplying air defence systems to shoot down Russian cruise missiles and drones over Ukraine.
The US and others have supplied air defence systems to shoot down Russian cruise missiles and drones over Ukraine. The US has said it will support the delivery of American fighter jets, such as F-16s, to Ukraine by Nato allies. Nato countries are teaching Ukrainian pilots how to fly them.
The anti-tank weapons that the US and UK have supplied, such as Javelin and Nlaw, were crucial in turning back Russia's advance on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, in spring 2022. However, the US is not providing its longer-range missiles, called Advanced Tactical Missile Systems. It thinks these could be used to attack targets inside Russia - which could provoke a direct conflict between Russia and the West.
Nato countries are also aiming to ramp up their supplies of artillery shells and ammunition to Ukraine. For the same reason, Nato countries are not sending troops to Ukraine, nor using their air forces to impose a no-fly zone.
At the Nato summit, the G7 members ratified a wide-ranging security pact with Ukraine, which will deliver more defence equipment, training and intelligence sharing.
What weapons are being supplied to Ukraine?What weapons are being supplied to Ukraine?
Why won't Nato countries give more help to Ukraine? What is Nato's defence plan against Russia?
Poland and Slovakia are sending Ukraine Soviet-era Mig fighter jets, but Nato countries are not sending the US-made F-16s it has been asking for. Nato commanders have agreed a new plan for countering Russian aggression.
Nato countries also fear that if Ukraine were to use these jets to strike targets inside Russia, it could draw them deeper into the war. It spells out how forces should be deployed if Russia attacks in any of three zones: the Arctic and north Atlantic; central Europe; or the Mediterranean region.
Nato countries are not sending their troops to Ukraine, or imposing a no-fly zone over the country, again for fear of provoking a direct conflict with Russia. Nato currently has 40,000 troops which can be mobilised at short notice. There is a proposal to have 300,000 troops ready for action within 30 days.
Nato has stepped up its military defences in eastern Europe Nato also wants member countries to update their military equipment, to stockpile more ammunition, and to spend a minimum of 2% of their GDP on defence.
However, Nato countries have now stationed 40,000 troops in eastern Europe - on the territory of alliance members such as Lithuania and Poland.
They also have another 300,000 troops on high alert in Europe.
Five ways Ukraine war could go in 2023
Why isn't Ukraine in Nato?
Nato told Ukraine in 2008 that it could join the bloc at some point in the future, but declined its recent request for "fast-track" membership.
This is because Article 5 of the Nato charter says that if one member is attacked, all members should come to its defence.
If Ukraine was made a member, Nato countries would technically have to go to war with Russia.
Ukraine defence minister: We are in effect part of Nato
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Russia-Ukraine warRussia-Ukraine war
TurkeyTurkey
SwedenSweden
RussiaRussia
NatoNato
FinlandFinland
United StatesUnited States
UkraineUkraine