Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev believes Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO will provoke a military response from Russia. If NATO bases are built on the countries’ territory and weapons are stationed, “our response steps will be symmetrical,” the deputy head of the Russian Security Council said after a meeting on the security situation on the border with Finland.
After the Russian attack on Ukraine, Sweden and Finland cited concerns about their own security as a reason for wanting to join NATO. Before that they were neutral. At its summit in Madrid at the end of June, NATO approved the membership applications. Since then, ratification by the individual Member States has been ongoing.
Deteriorated situation in the Baltic Sea area
From Medvedev’s point of view, the decision for the two countries to join NATO worsens the security situation in the Baltic Sea region, “because the Baltic Sea is now effectively becoming a sea dominated by NATO countries.” of the ocean and influenced by Brussels”. Relations with the countries should now be reviewed by the Russian side.
Russia shares a more than 1,300 km long border with Finland in the north. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin had already announced in late June that the country’s accession to NATO would entail military countermeasures from his country.
Source: Krone
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