Sweden and Finland have become even closer to NATO membership

After Finland, Sweden, in turn, took a big step towards NATO membership, which is a direct consequence of Russian aggression against Ukraine. The report, presented on Friday, May 13, multiplies the conclusions favorable to joining the organization before the decision of the Scandinavian country, which is expected in the coming days.

«This will raise the threshold for the outbreak of military conflicts and, thus, will have a deterrent effect», – concludes the text prepared by the government and parties in parliament. Faced with the opposition of Moscow, which threatens the risks of consequences in the event of rapprochement with NATO, Swedish Foreign Minister Anne Linde said that «we will not be subjected to a conventional military attack in response».

For Russia, this statement, which was certainly expected, was a new setback after the President and Prime Minister of Finland, with which it shares a 1,300-kilometer border, said on Thursday that they were in favor of joining the EU or NATO without delay. The trial is due to end on Sunday. «Membership in NATO would make Finland safer», – they explained.

The Kremlin representative again threatened, hinting at the adoption of military-technical measures, that Moscow would not leave the steps of Stockholm and Helsinki unanswered. On Friday, the Kremlin announced the suspension of electricity supplies to Finland. The Secretary General of the organization, Jens Stoltenberg, welcomed the will of the Finnish leaders, while Paris and Berlin supported Helsinki.