The Russians are threatening that the Swedes will be “sent to their deaths” if they join NATO. Russia warns that Sweden and Finland will become “legitimate targets and retaliatory measures.” The Swedish Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador after his threat. Ambassador Viktor Tatrintsev said the two Nordic countries would be “legitimate targets.”
Swedes will be “sent to their deaths” if they join NATO, Russia’s ambassador to Stockholm has warned amid a frenzy of attacks on the Nordic nation. Viktor Tatrintsev claimed in a statement on the Russian embassy’s website that Sweden and its neighbor Finland would both face “retaliatory measures”, including “military” if they join to the International Military Alliance.
Sweden said it had summoned the Russian ambassador to explain his remarks that Sweden and Finland would both become “legitimate targets” after joining NATO. The two Nordic countries applied for NATO membership shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year. Both governments hope to complete the process this year.
The threat to Sweden and Finland is seen as Russia’s latest attempt to show power to the West after it was reported that the Kremlin is conducting exercises with large nuclear missiles. In an attack on the country, the Russian ambassador in Stockholm said that Sweden’s decision to join NATO was “hasty” and criticized the country for proceeding without a national referendum on the issue.
The Russian ambassador said that Sweden is taking a “step into the abyss” by entering NATO membership and said “the Swedes will undoubtedly send themselves to their deaths for the interests of others.” The Swedish Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador for a reprimand. “Sweden’s security policy is determined by Sweden – and not by anyone else,” he added.
Both Sweden and Finland have been closely allied with NATO for decades, but public opinion in the countries was against formally joining the alliance before the Russian invasion. But some polls have found that 80% in Finland and more than two-thirds in Sweden are now in favor of joining NATO amid the war in Ukraine.
Since making their intentions clear, Sweden and Finland – which share a 1,340km border with Russia – have been repeatedly threatened by Moscow. But all 30 NATO members must ratify a country’s membership application if it wants to join. Finland is now waiting for Turkey to confirm its membership. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to do so following the visit of Finnish President Sauli Niinisto to the country earlier this month.