Russia has once again issued chilling threats to neighboring Finland and Sweden as the neutral countries began deliberating joining NATO.
Following Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, other European nations who are not yet part of the military alliance began considering NATO application to protect their national interests and avoid a similar fate as Ukraine.
Russia, however, is not backing down on its stance about NATO expansion in Europe with Kremlin mouthpiece Dmitry Peskov now renewing threats to Sweden and Finland.
“We have repeatedly said that the alliance remains a tool geared towards confrontation,” Peskov said.
“Its further expansion will not bring stability to the European continent.”
Previously, Russia also warned of grave “consequences” should the two neutral countries join the military alliance.
“It’s obvious that if Finland and Sweden join NATO, which is first of all a military organization, it will entail serious military-political consequences, which would require retaliatory steps by the Russian Federation,” Maria Zakharova of the Russian Foreign Ministry said in late February.
“We view Finland’s course for maintaining the policy of military non-alignment as an important factor contributing to stability and security in northern Europe and on the European continent as a whole.
“We can’t fail to see consistent efforts by NATO and some of its members, primarily the U.S., to drag Finland as well as Sweden into the alliance.”
The latest warning comes after the Finnish government confirmed that the decision on whether or not the country will apply to join NATO will be made “within weeks.”
“In the beginning of the war I said that Putin’s aggression will drive Finland and Sweden to apply for NATO membership,” Alexander Stubb, former prime minister of Finland, said.
“I said it was not a matter of days or weeks, but months. Time to revise: Finland will apply within weeks, latest May. Sweden to follow, or at the same time.”
Meanwhile, Sweden began deliberations of its own. While the country’s ruling Social Democrats previously opposed joining the military alliance, Putin’s aggression in Europe has reignited old debates about the country’s best interests.
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