Finland, Sweden will have increased access to NATO information on Ukraine – EURACTIV.com
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine expands Moscow’s military power to the borders of several NATO members, NATO partners Finland and Sweden can engage in an intensified exchange of information and NATO’s strategic communications.
“Sweden and Finland can, if they so wish, on a case-by-case basis, participate in enhanced contacts with NATO, improved information exchange and coordination, information on operations and strategic communications,” Finnish President Sauli Niinistö confirmed to reporters after a virtual NATO summit on Friday. (February 26).
NATO partners Finland, Sweden and the EU were also invited to participate.
“It is not in itself revolutionary, but it should be noted that all countries see this as the right arrangement,” Niinistö said, adding that this would not be equal to the possibility of Finland joining NATO.
In practice, this means that the two countries could participate in improved intelligence sharing and strategic communication from case to case.
Based on the arrangement, Finland could, for example, request confidential information from NATO or vice versa, while the respective holders of the information would decide whether the information should be provided.
According to diplomatic sources, NATO leaders on Friday discussed the special role of both because “they must be fully informed because of their strategic position for Russia”.
Finland and Sweden are two of six countries called “strengthened partners”, largely due to their contribution to NATO operations. As such, they have options when it comes to collaboration.
In recent months, NATO has intensified cooperation focusing on security in the Baltic Sea Region, which includes political consultations, exchange of information on hybrid warfare and joint exercises.
EURACTIV also understands that NATO is generally exploring various mechanisms for sharing information with its non-Alliance partners.
Nordic concerns
In recent years, both Finland and Sweden have complained about incidents involving Russian submarines and aircraft that have penetrated the airspace in the Baltic Sea region. They have responded by stepping up bilateral military cooperation and promoting more ties with NATO.
Finland, which has a border of more than 1,300 kilometers with Russia, but also Sweden, is aware that any action to join the alliance would create backlash in Moscow.
After deciding to remain militarily neutral in the 1990s, both eventually abandoned their political neutrality when they joined the EU in 1995.
Finland’s and Sweden’s policy of military freedom of alliance has persisted to this day, even though renewed threats of Russian aggression give rise to talks on potential NATO membership.
Russia is not amused
Moscow says that Helsinki and Stockholm’s moves towards closer ties with NATO are of “particular concern” for Russia, which has vehemently opposed NATO’s expansion to the east.
Earlier on Friday (February 26), when NATO leaders met in Brussels, Russia accused NATO and the United States of trying to lure Finland and Sweden into the alliance.
“It is clear that Finland’s and Sweden’s accession to NATO, which is primarily (…) a military bloc, would have serious military and political consequences that would require retaliation from our country,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. a meeting. weekly press conference in Moscow, quoted by Russian news agencies.
“We see the Finnish government’s commitment to a military freedom of alliance policy as an important factor in ensuring security and stability in northern Europe. Finland’s accession to NATO would have serious military and political repercussions, “added Zakharova. The spokeswoman has recently been added to the EU’s sanctions list over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Sweden received a similar warning.
Support for NATO membership in both countries has increased in recent months, mainly driven by events in and around Ukraine. shows the latest surveys.
Together with Austria, Cyprus, Ireland and Malta, Finland and Sweden are the only EU member states that are not members of NATO.
Asked to comment on Moscow’s warning to the two EU members, EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell declined, but confirmed: “We believe that all states are free to choose their foreign policy and their alliance policy.”
[Edited by Alice Taylor]