War in Ukraine: Sweden and Finland prepare to join NATO and Russia warns of consequences

Russian President Vladimir Putin will soon accomplish what he has officially done wants to avoid. The president denies that he attacked Ukraine to include it and fulfill his imperial dreams, but he does so because NATO’s successive expansion in recent decades threatens his country.

Their neighbors to the west don’t seem to think the same. Finland and Sweden can contribute this week necessary political measures to join the Atlantic Alliance, broke his official neutrality in the military (In practice they have been participating in NATO military maneuvers for many years). NATO from 30 to 32 Member States and in Finland I will have more than 1,300 kilometers of border direct land with Russia.

The first major date is this Wednesday. The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Finnish Parliament will begin writing a report on the country’s security which, although it does not contain an official request to join NATO, will say that This is the best way to keep the country safe..

Two days later, on Friday, the Swedish government will publish a similar security report. The two governments are trying to coordinate their measures simultaneously request admission and simultaneously enter in the Atlantic Alliance.

Key decisions will be made over the weekend for the future of Scandinavian and European security in general. Next Saturday Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin must clarify what her government will do. His party, the Social Democrats, has traditionally been opposed to joining NATO. but now he supports it. The Finnish press estimates that nearly two-thirds of MPs think the same.

Sweden’s Prime Minister, fellow Social Democrat Magdalena Andersson (whose party has been against NATO membership for decades) will announce her position on Sunday.

Decisions will be needed a legislative process with parliamentary ratification and in Finland the signature of the President of the Republic. About the King of Sweden is a formalism of protocol. Neither government considers it necessary to consult the population in a referendum because the parliamentary majority is in favor of they are loose.

On Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, the President of the Finnish Republic, Sauli Niinistö, will travel to Stockholm. He must meet with the government and the king of Sweden. During his visit, a joint announcement could be made if parliaments have already spoken.

From there, the two governments must send their request for admission to NATO headquarters in Brussels, where waiting for you with open arms. The Atlantic Alliance’s annual summit, to be held in Madrid on June 28, 29 and 30, is supposed to strengthen the expansion. Unity is needed, but no government of the 30 Member States announced their denial.

What is NATO getting?

Sweden and Finland they are integrated democracies and its Armed Forces is, in proportion to its population, powerful and compatible with other NATO troops. The Alliance wins everything intelligence capabilities and air military capabilities in a region border with Russia.

Finland is in proportion to its over five million inhabitants a full military power. It can mobilize nearly 300,000 soldiers, has a reserve of over 900,000 people with military training and has innovative weaponssuch as the American F-35 fighter jet.

Sweden could mobilize fewer troops but has a strong military industry. The countries also contribute two important telecommunications companies: Ericsson of Sweden and Nokia of Finland.

The two countries have been participating in NATO missions and exercises for two decades and have placed their troops under NATO military command in operations in the Balkans. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, its ministers and heads of government have attended Atlantic Alliance summits and meetings.

Russia’s warnings

Russia has been making sure for months that it will take action in case Finland and Sweden ask to join NATO, which will have “military and political consequences”.

Moscow has come a long way to ensure that will deploy nuclear -capable missiles in its enclave of Kaliningrad, but area governments have criticized for years that Iskander missiles deployed in that area already have nuclear capacity.

Russia so far has not gone beyond words more than a few cyber attacks.

The Kremlin reiterated the warning on Wednesday without issuing any threats.

Dimitri Peskov, spokesman for the Russian government, said at a press conference (according to a cable from the EFE agency): “For everything related to actions that could change in any way the Alliance’s reorganization in our borders, we observe it carefully. This is a subject of very, very complete analysis ”.

Brussels, special for Clarín

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