Finland officially joined NATO

Finland has handed over its NATO accession document to the U.S. and has become the 31st member of the alliance. Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto handed over the instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty, marking the completion of the procedure.

"With the receipt of this document, we can declare Finland as the 31st member of the North Atlantic Treaty," said U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

The new members' accession documents are kept in the United States. Finland joined NATO on the anniversary of the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949 in Washington.

Finland decided to join NATO last May amid events in Ukraine. Its application was first approved by 28 of the 30 countries of the alliance - except for Budapest and Ankara. Hungary ratified the country's membership in the bloc in late March and Turkey in early April.