“Finland formally joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Tuesday, a historic shift for a country that once insisted it was safer outside the military alliance and a sign of how President Vladimir Putin’s gamble in Ukraine is upending the post-Cold War order. Finnish membership will double NATO’s land border with Russia, adding more than 800 miles. It will also bolster the alliance’s presence around the Baltic Sea and enhance its position in the Arctic.” (via The Washington Post)

If you are looking for more context on this matter, please consider Erwan Lagadec, an associate research professor of international affairs at the George Washington University. He is an expert on NATO affairs and has taught classes on NATO’s strategic challenges and the Western responses to Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy. Lagadec’s research interests also include NATO projecting stability, sub-national transatlantic relations, and the politics of aid.

If you would like to speak with Prof. Lagadec, please contact GW Media Relations Specialist .