Helsinki and Stockholm must “understand the consequences of such a step for our bilateral relations and for the European security architecture as a whole,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday.
Furthermore, Sweden and Finland’s membership of NATO “is unlikely to contribute to strengthening (their) international reputation,” the spokeswoman said. The two countries’ non-aligned policies provide “a credible level of security”, while membership in a military alliance “is incapable of strengthening their national security”. Both countries “would automatically find themselves in front of NATO”.
Threat of nuclear weapons
Former Russian President and current number two on Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, warned on Thursday that Russia will place nuclear weapons near the three Baltic countries and Scandinavia if Finland or Sweden decide to join NATO.
security policy change
Moscow’s military action in Ukraine resulted in a dramatic upheaval in public and political opinion about NATO membership in Finland and Sweden. Until now, the countries have worked closely with the defense alliance, but they are not members.
Finland recently announced that it will decide on an application for NATO membership in the coming weeks. Sweden is also discussing membership.