Northward expansion of NATO: Sweden prepares for retaliation from Russia
Created: 06/29/2022, 17:20
By: Daniel Dillmann
So far, NATO's northern expansion has hardly triggered any reactions from Moscow.
In Sweden, however, they are preparing for it.
Frankfurt – Now it's official.
NATO has initiated the process of admitting Sweden and Finland to the defense alliance.
This was confirmed by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the NATO summit in Madrid.
After "weeks of hard work" a breakthrough has finally been achieved.
This work began on May 18, when the governments of Sweden and Finland submitted their application for NATO membership in response to the war of aggression that Russia had launched against Ukraine.
NATO expansion: Sweden and Finland react to Ukraine war
Should NATO accept both countries, the common border between the military alliance and Russia would be significantly extended – from around 800 to more than 2,000 kilometers.
And the recording is considered safe.
Only the previous evening had Turkey given up its blockade against Finland and Sweden joining NATO – in exchange for concessions from the Nordic countries.
Stoltenberg said the agreement was good for Turkey, Finland and Sweden - and also for NATO.
Northward expansion of NATO: Sweden and Finland will probably have to wait months
However, it will probably be a few months before Finland and Sweden are actually members of the alliance.
According to current plans, the accession protocols are to be signed next Tuesday.
After that, they still have to be ratified by the member states.
It is estimated that it could take six to eight months for all 30 Allies to do this.
In Germany, the Bundestag must also agree.
The NATO members
country | NATO member since |
---|---|
Albania | 2009 |
Belgium | 1949 |
Bulgaria | 2004 |
Denmark | 1949 |
Germany | 1955 |
Estonia | 2004 |
France | 1949 |
Greece | 1952 |
Great Britain | 1949 |
Ireland | 1949 |
Italy | 1949 |
Canada | 1949 |
Croatia | 2009 |
Latvia | 2004 |
Lithuania | 2004 |
Luxembourg | 1949 |
Montenegro | 2017 |
Netherlands | 1949 |
North Macedonia | 2020 |
Norway | 1949 |
Poland | 1999 |
Portugal | 1949 |
Romania | 2004 |
Slovakia | 2004 |
Slovenia | 2004 |
Spain | 1982 |
Czech Republic | 1999 |
Turkey | 1952 |
Hungary | 1999 |
United States | 1949 |
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But how is Russia reacting to NATO's northern expansion?
According to Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, so far very cautious.
There is also a reason for this: “Russia knows that we have been a NATO partner for a long time, that we have been working closely with NATO for many years.
Maybe they don't see it as such a big step," Andersson told
Politico
magazine .
How does Vladimir Putin react to NATO expansion?
Should Russia's President Vladimir Putin change his mind and threaten Sweden with retaliatory measures, Sweden is prepared.
"Of course we have increased our precautionary measures against Russia," said the Prime Minister.
Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson at the NATO summit in Madrid.
© Paul White/dpa
According to experts, the planned northern expansion of NATO should significantly increase the capacities of the military alliance.
Finland and Sweden already have “a world-class and fast-growing military,” according to Celeste A. Wallander, US Secretary of State for International Affairs.
While Finland operates a well-equipped fleet, Sweden has extensive experience of military operations in arctic areas.
In any case, Jens Stoltenberg is certain of one thing: Vladimir Putin miscalculated in the middle of the Ukraine conflict.
It was “not successful in closing the door of NATO.
He gets the opposite of what he wanted." (dil/dpa)