Finland and Sweden have changed their stance to remain neutral in the wake of the Russian attack on Ukraine. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said the Nordic countries would be welcomed into the alliance.
However, this process can take several months after their formal applications are sent. Sweden and Finland joining NATO will increase the alliance’s influence in the Arctic and the regions around Russia.
Russia has warned that Finland and Sweden’s decisions to join the NATO military alliance are serious mistakes. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the media that this is another serious mistake that will have far-reaching consequences. Russian news agencies quoted him as saying that this would increase the general level of military tension.
