Finland and Sweden Ponder NATO Membership

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has spurred the long-neutral Nordic countries to consider joining NATO.

• Sweden and Finland have long maintained neutrality, abstaining from membership in NATO —the military alliance formed in 1949 to defend against the Soviet Union.
• Ever since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, politicians in both countries have begun to reconsider that stance. Support for joining NATO in both countries has seen a huge jump.
• This development has angered Russian leaders. Russian officials have warned the two Nordic nations that joining NATO would only further foment tensions..
• Finland signed a bilateral “Agreement of Friendship” with Russia in 1948, and remained neutral during the Cold War. Finland also shares a 1300 km border with Russia.
• Were Finland to become a member of NATO, it would double the land border between NATO and Russia—a prospect that wouldn’t elicit much sympathy from Moscow.
• Diplomats from prominent NATO members such as the US, Germany, France, Canada, Lithuania, Estonia are in favor of Sweden and Finland joining the alliance.