NATO: Finland and Sweden confirm plans to join NATO in June – but not Ukraine | The world | News
On Thursday, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto is expected to say whether his country should join the NATO alliance, where Sweden will follow up with its decision in the coming days. While Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats have called for a parliamentary debate on NATO until Monday when the country prepares for what is expected to be a decision to join the alliance in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which abandoned decades of military freedom of alliance. Professor Michael Clarke, defense and security analyst, explained that their membership in NATO would put more pressure on Russia’s security.
Professor Clarke told Sky News: “This is a very big moment in Europe’s history. Sweden has been independent since the Napoleonic Wars of 1812.
“It has been formally neutral since then. Finland has been neutral since 1945 and now they are both decided as a result of Russia’s policy of reversing its neutrality.
“These are two Nordic countries that, apart from Russia, are a 800 km long border between Finland and Russia.
“This complicates Russia’s general security problems for all Russian leaders in the future and it is a major moment for Western European security.”
READ MORE: Russian troops END out their own unit in friendly fire failure
He added: “Its NATO border as it looks today is only 300 miles, which is with the Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.
“That 300-mile border is relatively small given that NATO is 30 different states, but now it adds 800 miles to the 300 miles of the border that Russia now has to worry about.”
Mr Clarke noted: “When they officially say, as they will, at the Madrid summit in late June, ‘we would like to join NATO’, the process will take a few months.”
But Ukraine “does not join NATO” because it is a “different matter”.
Boris Johnson will sign historic security declarations with Sweden and Finland ahead of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, promising to “strengthen military ties” and support both countries should they be attacked.
The Prime Minister arrived in Stockholm on Wednesday before traveling to Harpsund, the country home of his Swedish counterpart, Magdalena Andersson, where he made a British commitment to come to the country’s aid in the event of a crisis.
Johnson will visit Finland later in the day, where he is expected to formalize a similar agreement with President Sauli Niinisto during a 24-hour whirlwind.
An offer to increase deployment to the region, including with the Royal Air Force, British Army and Royal Navy personnel and assets, will also be made.
DO NOT MISS
Putin “not about to retreat” when Russia invests in NATO “neutralization” [INSIGHT]
Kyiv devastation when 390 buildings were destroyed – repair costs amounted to 70 million euros [ANALYSIS]
Putin’s troops suffer as Ukraine’s drone overturns Snake Island [VIDEO]
It comes as both countries consider the prospects for NATO membership in the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing military aggression.
Johnson said: “We are unwavering and unequivocal in our support for both Sweden and Finland and the signing of these security declarations is a symbol of the eternal declaration between our nations.
“This is not a short-term stop, but a long-term commitment to strengthen military ties and global stability, and strengthen Europe’s defense for future generations.”
The declarations are based on claims made earlier this month that Britain would always help Finland if it was attacked by Russia, regardless of whether it was a member of NATO.