GW experts available to discuss Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO
President Biden will today sign the instruments of ratification for the protocols of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty for the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden.
George Washington University has faculty experts available to provide context and commentary on this issue.
Robert Orttung is a research professor of international affairs and a faculty member at the GW Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies. His areas of expertise include comparative politics, Russia, Ukraine, energy security and democracy.
From Dr. Orttung: “Sweden and Finland are absolutely right to seek membership in NATO. Staying out of the alliance would make them vulnerable to Russian aggression,” Orttung said. “In today’s new security environment, the only safe place is to be part of a large and cohesive defensive alliance. As Russia gets weaker over time, it will become more dangerous.”
“The two Nordic countries will also be crucial in helping Europe transition to an economy no longer dependent on Russia’s fossil fuels, as demonstrated by the explosive growth taking place in northern Sweden, with a focus on clean energy and the new digital the economy.”
Erwan Lagadec, an associate research professor of international affairs, is an expert on NATO issues. He has taught classes on NATO’s strategic challenges and the Western response to Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy.
From Dr. Lagadec: “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine brought home the stubborn distinction between being a NATO partner versus a NATO ally that formally benefits from Article 5’s collective defense guarantee. Both Sweden and Finland had arguably rested too easily in the belief that NATO – or at least individual NATO allies, especially the United States – would certainly come to their aid if attacked, regardless of their NATO status. The leadership in both countries now realizes that when push comes to shove, this assumption is not good enough.”