Russia will be forced to take security measures if Sweden and Finland join NATO, he said today Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grutsko, reports the Russian news agency TASS.
THE participation in the military alliance will lead to “the most undesirable consequences” he stated Grutskoaccording to the Russian news agency.
NATO: Sweden, Finland to decide whether to join Alliance
NATO has not ruled out accepting new members and it is up to countries like Sweden and Finland to decide if they want to join it, the head of the Alliance’s military committee said today.
«It is a free decision of any state that wants to join NATO to apply for membership, something they have not done so far.“, Said the Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer speaking to reporters during a visit to Seoul. “We are not forcing anyone to join NATO”he underlined.
He also added that The Alliance has not pressured any country to supply arms to Ukraine.
During a visit to the South Korean capital this week, Bauer discussed the war in Ukraine as well as military cooperation between Seoul and NATO.
His visit coincided with speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the South Korean parliament yesterday Monday, during which he asked Seoul military assistance, including armor and anti-aircraft missiles.
Bauer said he had discussed Zelensky’s request with South Korean officials, but confirmed their intention to offer non-lethal assistance to Ukraine at this time.
«If President Zelensky asks for such systems, it means he needs them“, Stressed the Dutch admiral.
However The South Korean government decides whether it intends and can send weapons to UkraineHe added that NATO had not asked Seoul to offer arms to Kyiv, nor had it offered arms to it, although members of the Alliance had done so.
Bauer noted that the non-lethal assistance – helmets and medical kits, among others – that South Korea has sent to Ukraine is also significant.
He himself stated that, According to NATO estimates, Russia will focus on eastern Ukrainehaving initially attacked various fronts.
NATO and its members will continue to offer “whatever is possible“In order to ensure the survival of Ukraine, but it is not going to send its own aircraft or army to the country,” Bauer concluded.
Finland’s electronic warfare and surveillance services have been on “red alert” following new threats from Russia over Helsinki’s intention to join NATO.
“Red” alert for cyber attacks in Finland – Mobilization at the border by the presence of Russian troops
The Finnish capital has already begun preparing for hybrid and cyber-attacks by hacker groups and other Moscow media.while images from the transport of Russian weapons near the border have caused great concern – in the West in general.
Watch the video from the transfer of Russian missile systems near the border with Finland:
“We have to be ready,” said the Finnish foreign minister
“We must be prepared for such threats” as cyberattacks and hybrid threats, said Finnish Foreign Minister Peka Haavisto when asked if Finland was ready to respond to threats such as hybrids. Putin’s side, in case he proceeds with the application for NATO membership.
In a press conference he gave a hybrid to the international media together with the Minister of Defense Andy Kaikonen and the Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen on the report of the Finnish government on the security environment, Mr. Haavisto noted that the report has a place for new types of threats such as hybrids, cyberattacks or other aspects affected by this crisis such as energy security, food security.
“We understand that in these times of cyber-attacks in particular, hybrid threats are also being used to disrupt the lives of nations. We have seen this especially of course in Ukraine. A form of Russian aggression against Ukraine was somewhat like that. I believe that we must be prepared for such threats. “As you know very well in Helsinki we have the hybrid center which works very closely with NATO and EU countries and that is part of our preparation, that we have an institute that has been dealing with this type of threat for many years.”
At the same time, the Finnish Foreign Minister stressed in his statement that “Russia’s aggression will affect the security of Europe and Finland, both in the short and long term.”
He also noted that the war started by Russia endangers the security and stability of the whole of Europe.
Mr Haavisto noted that the Russian invasion of Ukraine would have a long-term effect on our security environment, adding that the security situation in Europe and Finland was now more difficult and more serious to predict than it had been after the Cold War. . “Changes in the security situation are expected to last a long time,” said the Finnish foreign minister.
Missile systems on the border with Finland
The Russian threat erupts after statements about the possible membership of both Finland and Sweden in NATO, as Moscow has repeatedly stated that this development is tantamount to a threat to the country itself.
At the same time that the Finnish government has announced that it is now formally considering its application for membership in the North Atlantic Alliance, observers are talking about “intense mobility” at the border. A video released to the international media shows Russian military forces and vehicles moving on the border with Finland.
The video shows a large phalanx of vehicles crossing a road leading to strategic positions opposite the Finnish border, a fact that can only cause concern and reflection if one considers what preceded the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The video shows the transport of at least two missile systems near the border with the Scandinavian country. It is speculated that this is the K300P BastionP system, which can hit targets over long distances.
In the coming weeks, Finland’s decision to join NATO
THE Finland to make decision on NATO membership ‘within weeks’ following the Russian attack on Ukraine, announced in In Stockholm, the Finnish Prime Minister Sana Marin.
“I think this will happen soon enough. In a few weeks, not in months “said the Finnish Prime Minister during her visit to her Swedish counterpart Magdalena Anderson, at a time when Sweden also does not rule out its membership in the Atlantic Alliance.
Without revealing her own preference, the Prime Minister of Finland stressed during a joint press conference in Stockholm the advantages of a NATO member over a simple partner, such as Finland today.
“There is no other way to have security guarantees outside the framework of common defense and deterrence as guaranteed by NATO Article 5.”
“The difference between a partner and a member is clear and will remain”warned.
The debate on whether or not to join NATO will begin in the Finnish parliament today, and the government believes that the decision will be made by the beginning of the summer.
A NATO summit is scheduled for June 29th and 30th in Madrid.
Alongside, The Finnish government has submitted to parliament a “white paper” on the strategic situation following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which will serve as a point of reference for the talks.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has profoundly changed the security environment, according to the White Paper, according to which the country’s accession to NATO will mean an increase in its defense spending by 1% to 1.5%.
It would be good if Finland and Sweden made similar security choices in the future, the Finnish prime minister added, warning that her country should be prepared for a Russian response even during the process of assessing whether or not to join the Atlantic Alliance. .
For her part, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Anderson said that the Swedish side should consider what is best for the country’s security. We can not rush to make decisions, he said.
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