Russia’s new military presence comes as Finland and neighboring Sweden intensify their push to join NATO. Russia has threatened to worsen the situation in the region if both countries join NATO.
Moscow, First Published Apr 13, 2022, 12:45 PM IST
Moscow: Russia sends troops to Finland border Russia’s new military presence comes as Finland and neighboring Sweden intensify their push to join NATO. Russia has threatened to worsen the situation in the region if both countries join NATO.
Finland has a population of 55 million and Sweden has a population of 1 million. Russia’s desire to join NATO has been strong in these small European countries since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Anderson have begun moving to join NATO. This is what provoked Russia. Russia’s foreign affairs spokesman Dmitry Peskov has warned that the situation in the region could worsen if Sweden and Finland join NATO. Russia later sent a large contingent to the Finnish border.
Finland is a country that shares a 1340 km long border with Russia. Military forces, including missiles and tanks, reach the Finnish border. So far, Finland and Sweden have said they do not want to join NATO, Europe’s military alliance, despite being members of the European Union. But as Russia invaded Ukraine, the majority of the population voted in favor of NATO membership. Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Anderson has intensified talks on NATO membership in Sweden, where parliamentary elections are set for September.
Finland’s proposal to join NATO is likely to be tabled in parliament next week. It is in this context that Russia’s intervention with the direct threat. NATO’s response was that both countries’ NATO membership applications would be considered sympathetically. The United States will support more countries joining NATO.
Last Updated Apr 13, 2022, 12:54 PM IST
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