Status: 05/17/2022 1:31 pm
From the point of view of the Russian leadership, the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO would be a serious mistake. Moscow warns that this will not be without consequences. But what could they look like?
By Christina Nagel, ARD Studio Moscow
In recent days, the political leadership has repeatedly made it clear that Russia will react to Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership. But how – this remains open.
WDR Logo Christina Nagel ARD Studio Moscow
Russia, President Vladimir Putin clarified, has no problems with Sweden or Finland. That is why the two countries’ admission to NATO, which they would already work with anyway, would not pose a direct threat. But, the president added, “if the military infrastructure spreads to these territories, we will respond. As will depend on the threats we face.”
Moscow recognizes new security risks
According to the Kremlin, quite unnecessarily, the abandonment of neutrality between the two countries would create new security risks. Tensions would be artificially increased. In particular by the United States, which would have made NATO its foreign policy tool. According to Putin, this is being done “quite consistently, skillfully and very aggressively.”
The geostrategic balance would clearly shift as a result of the alliance’s northern expansion – not just with regard to the 1,300 kilometer Finnish-Russian border, which would become the NATO border. But also with regard to access by the Baltic Fleet to the Baltic Sea, to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad and access to the Arctic regions.
first instructions
President Putin, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, has already instructed that more be done to protect Russia’s western flank.
There are several possibilities: from the modernization of Northern Fleet submarines to the stationing of troops and short-range Iskander-type missiles along the border.
Moscow: NATO’s northern expansion does not contribute to security
Christina Nagel, ARD Moscow, May 17, 2022 1:04 pm