Finland is officially the 31st member of NATO.
The security alliance welcomed the Nordic nation to the fold by raising its flag in Brussels for the first time.
The move elicited an angry response from Russia, which now sees its border with NATO increase by about twofold.
It has threatened "countermeasures" as it has long been critical of the alliance's eastward expansion.
Ahead of Finland's accession the US ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith said it was one of the main talking points for the 2 day meeting of foreign ministers that's currently underway.
IN: "An important meeting..."
OUT: "...disruptive technologies."
DUR: 41s
CLIP: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0404SmithNATO-jd.mp3
The security alliance welcomed the Nordic nation to the fold by raising its flag in Brussels for the first time.
The move elicited an angry response from Russia, which now sees its border with NATO increase by about twofold.
It has threatened "countermeasures" as it has long been critical of the alliance's eastward expansion.
Ahead of Finland's accession the US ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith said it was one of the main talking points for the 2 day meeting of foreign ministers that's currently underway.
IN: "An important meeting..."
OUT: "...disruptive technologies."
DUR: 41s
CLIP: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0404SmithNATO-jd.mp3