Russia wanted “less NATO”, got “more” at its borders after invading neighbors – Stoltenberg

Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, on Tuesday said Russia’s invasion of Georgia and Ukraine in 2008, 2014 and then its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year aimed at having “less NATO” at its borders, having led to receiving “more”, as Finland, which applied for the bloc’s membership in May, has been officially accepted as NATO ‘s 31st member that day. 

 

Stoltenberg stressed Russia’s aggressive actions pushed the alliance to add new members and further strengthen its Eastern flank. 

 

“Joining NATO is good for Finland, it is good for Nordic security and it is good for NATO as a whole,” he added. The Secretary General also noted that Finland’s accession shows the world that President Putin failed to “slam NATO’s door shut.” “Instead of less NATO, he has achieved the opposite; more NATO and our door remains firmly open,” he said during the official ceremony dedicated to Finland’s membership on Tuesday.