Despite Russia’s warning, Sweden and Finland officially applied to join NATO being concerned about the security. Normally, the procedure takes eight to twelve months, but NATO decides to move quickly in context of Russia’s threat to the Nordic countries.
Stoltenberg explaination
Stoltenberg said that the importance of the NATO expansion is recognised by all allies. We all believe that we must stand together, and that this is a historic opportunity that must be taken. As he stood alongside the two envoys, with NATO, Finnish, and Swedish flags at their backs, Stoltenberg stated, “This is a good day at a key moment for our security.”
Several NATO countries, including the United Kingdom, have offered Finland and Sweden security assurances during the application period until they are safeguarded by the alliance’s mutual defence pact. Stoltenberg said that countless comments are recieved from allies promising to Finland and Sweden’s security in recent a recent days. NATO and its allies are already watchful in the Baltic Sea region, and they will continue to adjust as needed. NATO allies believe that they are focused and are ready to face any kind of challenges and will reach to the conclusions as soon as they could.
Importance of NATO
The importance of NATO expansion is recognised by all allies. They all will stand together to safeguard Finland and Sweden giving them security assurances. ” Both countries have modern military and have worked alongside NATO in the Balkans and Afghanistan,” he said.”They claim that their military technology is compatible with NATO systems.”
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, public opinion in Finland and Sweden has moved dramatically in favour of membership. The decision to pursue membership in NATO is a setback for Moscow, as the conflict in Ukraine has triggered the very kind of NATO enlargement on Russia’s borders that it used force to avoid.
Moscow has been unusually quiet so far though, after previously warning of “military-technical” moves and threatening to deploy nuclear weapons in its European exclave ofKaliningrad if the countries joined. President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that NATO membership by Sweden and Finland presented no threat to Russia, but warned that if the Western alliance increased military facilities in the new Nordic countries, Moscow would reciprocate.
