Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersen held a press conference at the Social Democratic Party of Stockholm on the 15th to announce Sweden’s plan to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Stockholm = AP News
“It is a historic day. A new era is dawning.”
Sauli Ninistö, President of Finland
As Finland and Sweden made the world-historical decision to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a major tectonic shift is expected in the European security landscape. The primary goal is the disappearance of the buffer zone that absorbed the tensions between the ‘Western camp’ and the ‘anti-Western camp’, but it is also remarkable that the two countries with both economic and military power gained a strategic advantage over Russia as they strengthened their power in the West. there is.
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersen said at a press conference on the 15th (local time) that “the European security order that has supported Swedish security is under attack. ” he said. On the same day, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said that “there is no peaceful future next to Russia” and that “this is why we decided to join NATO”. The two countries are expected to submit applications to NATO soon following approval by parliament. Finnish President Niinistö will visit Sweden on the 17th and 18th to discuss the possibility of joining the two countries at the same time.
Even earlier this year, Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO was unthinkable. In both countries, the Social Democrats were in power, which regarded the ‘military non-alignment’ as a ‘religious belief’. That is proof that the security instability triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has come as an existential threat to both countries, which have maintained a ‘neutral line’ for 74 and 208 years, respectively. Charlie Salonius Pasternak, senior researcher at the Finnish Institute for International Studies, explained to the political media Politico Europe, “Even if Russia does not pose a threat to the present generation, the next generation may be threatened.”
Annalena Baerbok (5th from left in the front row), German Foreign Minister, Mircea Zeohonor (6th from left in the front row), NATO Deputy Secretary General, Tony Blincoln (4th from right, front row) Secretary of State of the United States, etc. NATO foreign ministers pose for a commemorative photo following an informal meeting in Berlin, Germany, on the 15th. Berlin = AFP Yonhap News
NATO welcomed Finland and Sweden with open arms. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg promised expeditious approval of membership at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers held in Berlin on the same day. Although there were reports that Turkey opposes it, Secretary-General Stoltenberg explained that “I am not once morest the membership itself, and Turkey’s concerns will be resolved soon.” In fact, it means that only formal procedures remain.
Finland and Sweden have participated in almost all NATO exercises so far, and their weapon systems are similar. This means that the NATO command system as well as weapons interoperability are possible. They are also countries that have already achieved the NATO target of 2% of GDP for defense spending. While NATO has little to offer for new member states, it has a lot to gain. “Sweden and Finland will strengthen the solidarity between the countries of Northern Europe, especially the Baltic States,” said The Economist, a British news week.
Furthermore, the West can keep Russia in check in the competition for hegemony in the Arctic Ocean, where a new route has been opened due to global warming. This is because if Finland and Sweden join NATO, seven of the eight countries in the Arctic coast, excluding Russia, will be tied to the NATO alliance. In addition, as the two countries are leading the development of 5G technology together with China, they can form a strategic alliance in the field of ‘technology security’. This is why Finland and Sweden are even evaluated as “Nato’s super partners” (former NATO Secretary-General Jamie Sheer).
Former Finnish Prime Minister Aleksander Stub said, “NATO will now welcome the 31st and 32nd countries that work better than any other member state. I ran into it,” he pointed out.
Kim Pyo-hyang reporter suzak@hankookilbo.com
