Finland is expected to officially join NATO in the coming days as tensions between Europe and Russia remain high over the war in Ukraine. 

Finland’s entrance into the intergovernmental military organization comes after Turkey became the final NATO member to approve the Nordic country’s application for membership, which was first filed in May 2022. 

“Finland will formally join our Alliance in the coming days. Their membership will make Finland safer and NATO stronger. I look forward to also welcoming Sweden as a full member of the NATO family as soon as possible,” said Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary general. 

The move, which was opposed by Russia, comes as Sweden is also attempting to join the alliance, which has vigorously opposed Russia during its war with Ukraine. 

“NATO membership will strengthen Finland’s security and improve stability and security in the Baltic Sea region and Northern Europe,” Finland’s government said after Turkey approved their membership. 

Turkey had voiced objections to Finland’s support for certain Kurdish groups which it opposes. Those concerns were apparently rectified before Turkey voted to accept Finland. 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been supportive of allowing both Finland and Sweden into the organization. “Both countries have taken significant, concrete actions to fulfill their commitments, including those related to the security concerns on the part of our ally, Turkey,” he said in December. “As their membership process continues, the United States is fully committed to Finland and Sweden’s accession.”

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin first announced their intent to join NATO nearly a year ago at a joint news conference in Helsinki. The long-neutral nation shares an 830-mile-long border with Russia, which has spooked neighboring nations with its attack on Ukraine.

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NATO was founded in 1949 to counter the threat from the Soviet Union. Russian President Vladimir Putin has complained that it is encroaching on his country and blamed Ukraine’s desire to join as one of the reasons for the ongoing invasion. The last country to join was North Macedonia in 2020. 

According to NATO stipulations, an attack on one is an attack on all, meaning that all member countries are obligated to get involved when one is attacked. 

Stoltenberg recently said that he believes that NATO members need to increase military production of weapons and ammunition to sustain “support for Ukraine.”

Dozens of deadly tornadoes and powerful storms ravaged the Midwest and South late Friday and into the wee hours of Saturday, including one that collapsed the roof of an Illinois concert hall where hundreds were gathered for a performance.

At least five people were killed and dozens injured in the violent weather, which tore through several states just a week after 26 people were killed in the South by tornadoes and storms. Nearly two dozen tornadoes were reported late Friday and early Saturday in Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Mississippi.

Near Ollie, IA today. Will publish video a bit later. Saw a few different tornadoes including 2 at the same time. pic.twitter.com/4S5ai5luAh

— Darin Brunin (@Tornaduhs) March 31, 2023

In Belvidere, Illinois, more than 200 people were gathered inside the Apollo Theatre Friday night for a performance by bands Revocation, Morbid Angel, and Skeletal Remains. The concert had been underway for a half hour when the building’s roof collapsed, leaving one person dead and 28 injured, according to the city’s fire chief. The collapse was apparently caused by powerful winds and hail, according to the National Weather Service.

🚨#BREAKING: An Extremely dangerous and life threatening tornado outbreak will likely take place today⁰⁰📌#Unitedstates | #USA⁰⁰The Storm Prediction Center has issued a historic Rare double High Risk for Numbers Long track and extremely violent dangerous tornados that covers… pic.twitter.com/8eMqZ9AJlz

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) March 31, 2023

“We ask anyone who is still traveling to the venue to please seek shelter and stay safe,” Morbid Angel said in a statement posted on social media. “We are currently sheltering in place, and want to extend our support and hope that everyone at the show tonight is safe. Right now our focus is on making sure everyone in the venue tonight is ok and gets home.”

Three people were reported killed in Arkansas, including two in Wynne and one in North Little Rock. Another two were killed in Indiana late Friday by a powerful storm that wrecked homes and a volunteer fire department near Sullivan.

(Peter Zay/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

At least a dozen tornadoes were reported in Arkansas alone, where the small city of Wynne was “basically cut in half by damage from east to west,” Mayor Jennifer Hobbs told CNN Friday evening. Homes in the town of 8,000 were leveled, and debris was strewn on fields and streets.

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Just one week ago, a spate of deadly storms ripped through Arkansas and Mississippi killing more than two dozen people. The town of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, was devastated by the storms, which packed 170-mph winds.

More tornadoes were expected Saturday in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, according to the Storm Prediction Center.