Russian President Vladimir Putin sees “potential security threats” from Russia, with the possibility of Finland and Sweden joining NATO (Atlantic Treaty Organization).
According to a report by Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s remarks were made to the permanent members of the Russian Security Council, who met today. “There was an exchange of views on the decision of Finland and Sweden to join NATO and the potential threats to Russia’s security in this context,” Peskov said. said.
Today, Sweden said it would apply to join NATO the day after Finland announced the same provision. The possibility of Ukraine joining the military alliance was one of the arguments used by the Russian government to justify the occupation of Ukrainian territory on February 24.
The Russian spokesman stated that the issue will be discussed at a meeting between Putin and Russian government leaders on Monday (16).
Russia’s war in Ukraine has reached its 79th day today as the Russian military faces tactical problems and the EU (European Union) announced more military support to the Ukrainians.
“Prevention”
Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde said joining NATO would not only stabilize the country but also benefit other countries around the Baltic Sea.
“Sweden’s NATO membership would raise the threshold of military conflict and therefore have a conflict-preventing effect in northern Europe,” Linde told reporters while presenting a security report to parliament. “Military dissonance has served us well, but now we are in a new situation,” he added.
According to the newspaper “Expressen”, Sweden’s official application for NATO membership will be made next week. The Swedish parliament will discuss the security situation on Monday and Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson will hold a special cabinet meeting where the official nomination decision will be made, Expressen cited anonymous sources.
An order will be sent soon after that, assuming nothing unexpected happens, sources told the newspaper.
(12) On Thursday, the Finnish government announced that they were in favor of the country’s joining NATO “without delay”. According to a joint statement by President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin, the Finnish decision will formalize the organization this Sunday (15).
Both Sweden and Finland have adopted military neutrality since the Cold War. But after Russia claimed NATO’s progress in the region as one of the reasons it invaded Ukraine, they felt threatened by Russia’s plans to deploy nuclear weapons in the Baltic region.
Swedes and Finns always do well in the rankings of the Global Peace Index, which measures peace in the world, despite the latest wave of violence between rival gangs in Sweden.
Since April, the governments of both countries have been discussing the possibility of joining NATO. The United States, Germany and France found themselves ready to facilitate the entry of the two countries.
Faced with this possibility, the Russian Foreign Ministry said yesterday that if countries join NATO, “Russia will have to retaliate, both military-technically and otherwise, to prevent threats to their national security.” emerged about it”.
source: Noticias
