BERLIN

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday congratulated Finland on joining NATO, stressing that its membership will make the alliance stronger.​​​​​​​

“Finland is now a member of NATO – this is good news and a gain for transatlantic security,” Scholz said on Twitter, reaffirming his government’s support for Sweden’s membership bid.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock described Finland’s membership as a historic day for NATO.

“The accession benefits all of us, making Finland safer & NATO stronger,” she said on Twitter.

“With the Finnish flag in pole position at NATO Headquarters now, we’re ready for the Swedish to be next. Sweden can count on us!” she added.

Finland officially became NATO’s 31st member on Tuesday at a ceremony held at the defense alliance’s headquarters in Brussels.

After the Russia-Ukraine war began in February last year, Finland decided to abandon its decades-long military non-alignment and applied for NATO membership.

With Finland’s accession, the length of NATO’s border with Russia has nearly doubled.