Sweden and Finland were both neutral throughout the Cold War, and their decision to join Nato is one of the most significant changes in Europe's security architecture for decades, reflecting a sweeping shift in public opinion in the Nordic region since Russia's Feb 24 invasion.
"I warmly welcome requests by Finland and Sweden to join Nato. You are our closest partners, and your membership in Nato will increase our shared security," Mr Stoltenberg said. The alliance considers that the accession of Finland and Sweden would hugely strengthen it in the Baltic Sea.Turkey has surprised its allies in recent days by saying it had reservations about Finnish and Swedish membership. Mr Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that he thought the issues could be resolved.
Seeking to move the membership process along, Sweden's defence minister has already headed to Washington and will be followed by Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto later this week. The decision to seek a place under the Nato umbrella represents a setback for Moscow, with the war in Ukraine triggering the very kind of enlargement of the alliance on Russia's borders that it took to arms to prevent.
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Putin says Russia will respond if Nato bolsters Sweden, Finland militarily
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Putin backs off hardline on Sweden, Finland NATO bidsSTORY: Vladimir Putin appeared to climb down on Monday from Russia's objections to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, saying Moscow had no issues with them entering the U.S.-led military alliance. PUTIN: 'I want to inform you, dear colleagues, that Russia has no problem with those states, it hasn't. So, in this regard, expansion by the addition of those countries poses no direct threat for us. But the expansion of military infrastructure into this territory would certainly provoke our response. What that (response) will be - we will see what threats are created for us.'The comments appeared to mark a major shift in rhetoric. Moscow for decades has cast NATO expansion as a direct threat to Russia's security, including citing it as a justification for the invasion of Ukraine itself. Russia's invasion has shaken up Europe's security architecture and forced Sweden and Finland to choose sides after staying out of NATO during the Cold War.Finland and Sweden now say they want the protection offered by NATO's treaty, under which an attack on any member is an attack on all.Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson made the announcement Monday. 'Our 200-year-long standing policy of military non-alignment has served Sweden well but the issue at hand is whether military non-alignment will keep serving us well. And Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is not only illegal and indefensible, it also undermines the European security order that Sweden builds its security on.'Swedish and Finnish officials have said Putin has only himself to blame for their decisions to join NATO.But the plans might be hitting a snag. NATO member Turkey said it would not approve either bid, with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan saying Monday that Sweden and Finland should not bother sending delegations to Ankara to persuade Turkey.Sweden and Finland need each of NATO's 30 members to approve their applications.
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Finland, Sweden formally submit application to join Natostraits_times May be a 'historic step' for Stoltenberg. But one more step closer to WW3 for the world.
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Finland, Sweden submit application to join NATOBRUSSELS: Finland and Sweden formally applied to join the NATO alliance on Wednesday (May 18) at allied headquarters, setting in motion an accession process that is expected to take only a few weeks. Ratification of all 30 allied parliaments could take up to a year, diplomats say.
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Finland, Sweden submit NATO membership applicationNATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday that Finland, Sweden have officially applied to join the world’s biggest military alliance, a move driven by security concerns over Russia’s war in Ukraine. “This is a good day at a critical moment for our security.” Why not let the whole world join and we would all be finally at total peace with one another ?
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Sweden launches Nato bid, seeks to overcome Turkish objections
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