Russia Is Pushing Finland and Sweden Toward NATO
Bringing the two Nordic countries into the alliance would let Putin know he doesn’t have veto power.
Finland’s air force has it down cold.
Photographer: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images
All eyes are on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his demands about Ukraine, backed by 100,000 troops and a buildup of military capability on the Russia-Ukraine border. Putin wants guarantees from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization that Ukraine will never be allowed to join the alliance, effectively giving him veto power over the membership, which today stands at 30 nations.
But less noticed are two countries to the north that are strong and independent democracies and have long ties to NATO, although neither is a member: Sweden and Finland. Late last month, the Russian foreign ministry made comments about both, indicating displeasure with the idea of either joining the alliance.