Finland, Sweden May Join NATO by This Summer

The move would bump the total number of NATO members from 30 to 32. It would aso further unite western forces during what’s already a period of impressive European unification. Finland is expected to submit its application by June, with Sweden following shortly behind.

Both Nordic countries have a long history of being relatively nonaligned. Sweden famously preserved its political neutrality during and after WWII. In a more complicated fashion, Finland entered into an enforceable treaty of neutrality (called the Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance of 1948) with the USSR in 1948, but this came to an end when Finland and post-Soviet Russia agreed to dissolve the treaty in 1992. Since then, Finland and Russia have only been mutually obligated “not to use force against each other and to respect their 800-mile border.”

Of course, Russia doesn’t love the idea of Finland applying to NATO in that respect. Prior to its invasion of Ukraine, Russia ordered NATO to halt any further expansion prior to its invasion of Ukraine. The country has continued to warn the alliance against accepting more members; according to the BBC, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier this week that “the alliance remains a tool geared towards confrontation.” Many are confident this is a deflection of Russia’s true problem: morale and supply issues resulting from stretching its military too thin.

Latest poll from Finland. 68% in favour of NATO membership, 12 against. If President and the Government would recommend it, then 77% are in favour, 11 against. In short: SUPPORT for NATO is OVERWHELMING! https://t.co/9Pd5PDEzXb

— sven sakkov (@sakkov) April 11, 2022

Public support for Finland’s potential NATO entrance has been growing as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues. Prime minister Sanna Marin recently told London’s The Times that she hopes the decision will be made quickly “to ensure the security of Finland,” even as Russia threatens military and political consequences in return.

Sweden is conducting a security policy review regarding the potential membership. At the same time, talks among NATO foreign ministers are reportedly focusing on Sweden’s and Finland’s incoming applications. With or without the two new countries, NATO is planning a “permanent full-scale military force” on its members’ borders in order to fend off any future invasion attempts by Russia. NATO is also expected to adapt its long-term plan when it convenes in Madrid this June.

As of now, no existing NATO member is expected to vote against Sweden’s or Finland’s attempts to join the alliance this summer.