... role and acceptance of U.S. bases on its territory; heightened tensions in the region (and the Arctic) and,
as I predicted right after Russia’s military operation in Ukraine
, Finland’s and Sweden’s panicking, rushed and fatal decision to join NATO.
Why Sweden and Finland are joining NATO
Andrey Kortunov:
NATO’s Cheek by Russia’s Jowl
Here are some of the possible reasons for this tension-increasing and security-reducing membership decision:
— Undoubtedly, both have been
under heavy pressure ...
..., RAS Institute for US and Canadian Studies, MGIMO University, as well as European and Swedish experts from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the European Leadership Network (ELN) discussed the implications of possible Sweden and Finland membership in NATO for global and European security, the risks of incidents in the Baltic Sea region and the possibilities to avoid them, security challenges in the Arctic region, and the prospects for multilateral cooperation in the Arctic in the context of NATO expansion ...
... “responsible ally”, while managing to solve some of Turkey’s internal problems at the expense of international players and leaving control over the implementation of those enshrined in the
Memorandum of Understanding
arrangements up to Ankara. Finland and Sweden have received a formal invitation to join NATO, but ratification by the member states’ national authorities will now be required, leaving significant room for manipulation by Turkey [
2
].
Another indication of the mitigation of the problem of internal divisions is the text of the new Strategic ...
... International Affairs Council (RIAC) hosted a round table discussion on Russia and NATO in the framework of Euro-Atlantic security. The participants discussed the contours of global and regional security in today's realities, due to the prospective NATO membership for Sweden and Finland.
The event was attended by Igor Ivanov, RIAC President; Andrey Kortunov, RIAC Director General; Ivan Timofeev, RIAC Director of Programs; Antti Helantera, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Finland in the ...
Which trends seen in the West reflect Finland’s and Sweden’s possible entry into NATO
Much has been said and written about the likely consequences of Finland and Sweden joining NATO. A legion of analysts have already assessed the changing balance of power in the Baltic Sea, the new situation on the long Finnish-Russian land border as well as the possible implications of such NATO’s expansion for the Arctic. Experts are actively ...
... and equipment on its borders as a major threat to its security, and only to meet this threat has Russia reciprocated by increasing its military presence in the region. In an interview with the same Dagens Nyheter last year, Lavrov pointed out that if Sweden were to join Nato, they would not expect an attack from Sweden, but would need to adjust their defensive strategy in accordance, as Sweden would then be part of and subordinated within a larger military structure.
In this context, the meeting may well mark a turning ...
On April 19, 2016, the Russian International Affairs Council received a delegation of Sweden's Ministry of Defence led by Jörgen Cederberg, Senior Adviser of the Ministry’s Department for Security and ... ... familiarized with RIAC’s projects on international cooperation in the Arctic, European security, the Baltic, and Russia-NATO dialogue.
... European affairs: just recall Finland’s impressive role in the preparations for and signing of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in Helsinki in 1975. Incidentally, the principle of neutrality does not prevent Sweden from taking part in NATO operations, such as Afghanistan.
AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko
Ivan Timofeev:
Russia and Europe: Structural Imbalances
For decades, Finnish and Swedish statesmen have stood out among their European colleagues for the breadth of their views, ...
... interests of the countries and peoples of Northern Europe to maintain and consolidate the zone of peace and stability in the region. This is not to say that those countries do not include political forces that are ready to support the entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO and to help these states become deeply integrated into the military and political structures of the North Atlantic treaty, or, on the other hand, very influential political and social circles that are firmly against such a turn of events.
The previous ...
...?id=73&L=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1511&tx_ttnews=100&cHash=428384cf53 [16] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-06/russian-aggression-prompts-finnish-swedish-military-pact.html [17] http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140510/DEFREG01/305100024/Finland-Builds-Multiple-Defense-Partnerships-NATO-Sweden [18] http://www.finlandtimes.fi/national/2014/08/28/9590/Finland-mulls-deal-to-allow-easier-entry-of-NATO-troops
