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BRUSSELS – Russia warned Finland and Sweden on Thursday that Moscow will reinforce the Baltic region if they join NATO, including with nuclear weapons.
The threat came a day after Finnish officials suggested the country could apply to join the 30-strong military alliance within weeks, and as Sweden mooted a similar move.
Finland is nearing NATO membership
Helsinki and Stockholm are officially non-aligned militarily but are reconsidering their status in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine – escalating warnings from Russia.
Dmitry Medvedev, a Putin ally and deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said Thursday that NATO expansion will prompt Russia to strengthen air, land and naval forces to “balance” military capabilities in the region.
“When Sweden and Finland join NATO, the length of the alliance’s land borders with the Russian Federation will more than double. Of course, these borders need to be strengthened,” he wrote on Telegram.
“There can no longer be any talk of a nuclear-weapon-free status in the Baltic Sea – the balance must be restored,” said Medvedev.
Putin’s war brings Finland and Sweden closer to joining NATO
His comments echo those of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who told British media last week that Russia would be forced to “rebalance the situation” if the two Nordic countries join NATO. He added: “We need to make our west flank more sophisticated to ensure our safety.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin used his opposition to NATO expansion as a pretext to invade Ukraine. His war there could now see the alliance grow from 30 to 32 members.
The admission of Finland and Sweden to NATO would redraw the security picture of northern Europe and bring the alliance’s border right next to the more than 800-mile Finland-Russia border.
A key tenet of NATO is Article 5, an agreement that an armed attack on one member will be considered an attack on all, with a duty of mutual defense. In both Finland and Sweden, that sounds increasingly tempting.
What is NATO and why is Ukraine not a member?
In both countries, Russia’s attack on its neighbor Ukraine has prompted a sharp shift in public sentiment towards NATO, with more people favoring membership.
Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Wednesday that her country was considering the decision but could act quickly.
“We must be prepared for all kinds of actions from Russia,” Marin told reporters. “I won’t give a timeline as to when we’ll make our decisions, but I think it’ll be pretty quick — in weeks, not months.”
Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats, who have traditionally opposed NATO membership, have also said they will reconsider their position in the coming months.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels last week that both countries meet NATO standards and would be welcomed by members should they wish to join.
“There are no other countries closer to NATO,” he said.