The Republic of Finland and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have a close relationship. Finland is one of six members of the European Union that are not members of NATO. Finland has had formal relations with NATO since 1994, when it joined the Partnership for Peace programme. The country maintains positive relations with the organisation and the possibility of membership has been a topic of debate in the country since the end of the Cold War. Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the debate turned in favour of NATO membership, and the country officially applied to join NATO on 18 May 2022.
Military alliances in Europe at the end of 1982. NATO member countries are marked in blue and the Warsaw Pact in red. Other countries are shown in gray on the map.
Vice President Harris joined President Biden welcoming President Niinistö and Swedish Prime Minister Andersson to Washington to discuss Sweden's and Finland's NATO applications. On 5 July 2022, NATO signed the accession protocol for Finland to join the alliance.
