Sweden, Finland participates in NATO military exercises
Sweden and Finland participate in NATO’s military exercises this week, NBC News reported on Thursday, despite the fact that none of the countries is a member of the military alliance.
Both European countries are participating in an exercise in which Norway is hypothetically invaded and NATO then invokes Article 5, which states that an attack on a NATO member is considered an attack on all NATO members, the network noted.
The “enemy” in this exercise includes Swedish and Finnish forces, while the United States, among others, hypothetically defends Norway, according to NBC News. Although the enemy is not Russia in this scenario, the network noted that the same characteristics and abilities exist in this “enemy” force.
Officials who spoke to NBC News said that both countries have been participating in the NATO exercise, which is planned every two years, for several years. The military exercise comes against the background of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, although the news media noted that it was planned before the conflict began.
The two countries are not part of NATO but are part of the European Union. Although there has been opposition from both sides in the past to joining the military alliance, The Associated Press noted recent opinion poll which indicates that sentiment is changing among both Finns and Swedes.
The development comes a month since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine and that President BidenJoe BidenBiden asks Herschel Walker and Mehmet Oz to leave the council or set aside defense and national security – US says Russia committed war crimes in Ukraine NYC mayor to lift vaccine mandate requirements for artists and athletes: report MORE meets NATO allies in Europe.
The Hill has contacted NATO and the Pentagon for comment.