Russia has regularly cautioned both nations about the "unpredictable repercussions" of joining NATO if they choose to do so.
Because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which the Kremlin deems "essential" in order to protect itself against NATO, neutral nations are being pushed farther into the military alliance headed by the United States. Sweden and Finland, according to sources in the Scandinavian media, have agreed to submit an application for NATO membership the following month. Despite the strong statements made by officials of the Russian government, who are understandably opposed to the membership of the two nations to the Atlantic Alliance and have issued serious military threats, the two countries have decided to join the alliance.
In the wake of World War II, Helsinki and Stockholm, in contrast to their Danish and Norwegian neighbors, elected to remain outside of NATO. Two hundred years ago, Sweden declared its neutrality, whereas Finland fought two wars against the then-Soviet Union, both before and during World War II, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945. Although the conflict was harsh and there was no obvious victor, the parties involved were persuaded to find a diplomatic solution that became known as 'Finnishization,' despite the negative connotation that the word had in their own Nordic nation. Helsinki was able to maintain its independence from Moscow while still adopting neutrality in terms of international alliances and affiliations with other countries. With the invasion of Ukraine, a precarious situation was thrown into disarray, and both nations were obliged to choose sides.
The European Union and NATO have fought in unison and with resolve this time, in contrast to earlier Kremlin conflicts, such as those waged against Georgia in 2008 and against the Ukrainian government itself in 2014. Both sanctions were economic in nature, with the first targeting Vladimir Putin's Russia while also helping Ukraine with weaponry, while the second reinforced the eastern front of his alliance while also giving military backing to the Kiev army. As members of the European Union and NATO allies, both Sweden and Finland have allied themselves with the West in opposing and combating the invasion. Because of this behavior, Russia has adopted a hostile stance toward the Nordic nations, which has paradoxically increased their inclination to forsake neutrality in order to seek shelter under the 'NATO umbrella.'
According to the Swedish newspaper Expressen, which cited government sources, the decision of the two CEOs to request participation in the military alliance, which now includes thirty countries, was officially approved yesterday. As recently as this month, the prime ministers of the two EU countries confirmed that they were considering a response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, claiming that the invasion had altered "the entire security landscape" of Europe as well as "radically changed the mentality" of the people of both countries. According to newspaper writers, the simultaneous queries might be submitted during the week of May 16, which coincides with the president of Finland, Sauli Niinisto, making a state visit to Stockholm.
Sanna Marin, Finland's first minister, has already said that her nation, which shares a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia, would determine whether or not to seek to join the alliance "as soon as possible, preferably within weeks rather than months." Meanwhile, Magdalena Andersson, Sweden's foreign minister, has said that the country would be prepared "for all types of acts from Russia" and that "everything has changed" since Moscow launched its war on Ukraine.
Russia has regularly cautioned both nations about the "unpredictable repercussions" of joining NATO if they choose to do so. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously declared that, should the two nations join NATO, Russia will be compelled to "establish military balance" in the Baltic Sea by beefing up its defenses, which might include the deployment of nuclear weapons.
Although the Kremlin has threatened to intervene, the Finnish tabloid Iltalehti has also claimed that Swedish authorities have verified that the two nations would express their intentions to join NATO on the same day. The international press has claimed that recent surveys have shown that 68 percent of Finns are in favor of joining NATO, which is more than twice the number who were in favor before the invasion, with just 12 percent against. In Sweden, the divide between those in favor and those opposed to entering the military alliance is narrower, and in any event, the majority of those interviewed voiced support for joining the military alliance.