After invading Ukraine, the Russian government threatened Finland and Sweden with “serious political and military consequences” if they decide to join NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). The two countries were invited to participate in the meeting of the western alliance, which took place this Friday (25th).
“Finland and Sweden must not guarantee their security by undermining the security of other countries. If they join NATO, they could face serious military and political consequences,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement. a press conference this Friday (25).
Zakharova also said that Finland’s policy of military non-alignment is “fundamental for maintaining security and stability in the northern European region”.
The Russian spokeswoman’s statement came after President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that Sweden is providing “military, technical and humanitarian assistance” to Ukraine. “Building an anti-Putin coalition together,” she wrote on Twitter.
Although they have been invited to the NATO meeting, neither Sweden nor Finland have shown any intention of joining the US-led alliance – on Thursday (24), Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said it would only happen “if it is necessary to ensure national security in a serious circumstance”.
On Thursday (24), after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said he had the right to choose to join the bloc at any time. “Finland’s room for maneuver and freedom of choice also includes the possibility of military alignment and application for NATO membership, if we decide ourselves,” he said.
The Swedish Prime Minister, Magdalena Andersson, was emphatic in stating that there is no intention in this regard. On the contrary, she stressed the importance of Sweden remaining “clear and predictable”, maintaining its policy of not establishing military alliances, “which serves Swedish interests very well”.
Andersson, however, condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine, saying they are clear violations of international law and undermine the security of Europe.
Asked about Russian threats to the two Scandinavian countries, Ned Price, a spokesman for the US State Department, said he would not speak on behalf of Sweden and Finland, but stressed that each country is free to choose its alliances.
The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borell, also stated that all countries are free to decide on foreign policy and alliances.
(See scenes from the war in Ukraine here)
