The Latest Breaking News from Helsinki

NATO’s blue and white flags are fluttering against the backdrop of Helsinki deep blue sky as Finland is on the cusp of its historic entry into NATO

Finland formally joined NATO on Tuesday, its flag unfurling outside the military bloc's Brussels headquarters, in a historic policy shift brought on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine that drew a threat from Moscow of "counter-measures."

Outgoing Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin was left to consider her future after she conceded defeat in a tight parliamentary election on Sunday that handed her centre-right rival Petteri Orpo the right to try and form a coalition.

Here is a profile of Finland's outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin, whose left-wing Social Democrats lost a parliamentary election on Sunday, although they might still join the next coalition with election winner the National Coalition Party.

Ms Marin’s Social Democrats are fighting to secure a second term in power

Three parties are in a neck-and-neck race to win a majority of Finland’s 200-seat parliament and form a new government.

Is Sanna Marin still popular and do most Finns support NATO? Here are five key things to know.

Talking Europe interviews Tytti Tuppurainen, Finland's minister for European affairs, following the Hungarian parliament's ratification of Helsinki's application to join NATO. Finland and Sweden both applied nearly a year ago, in what was seen as a huge shift in European security. But obstacles have slowed down the two countries' progress…

Helsinki entering the alliance will provide a major presence on Russia’s borders and more tools to defend Baltic states formerly under the Kremlin’s dominion

Turkey's parliament approved a bill on Thursday to allow Finland to join NATO, clearing the way for the country to become part of the Western defence alliance as war rages in Ukraine.

Finland looks set to join NATO soon, with Turkey's parliament voting to ratify Helsinki's membership bid even as it keeps Sweden's application on hold.