The Russian Reaction to Finland and Sweden’s Bids to Join NATO

Moscow sees Sweden and Finland’s expected accession to NATO in the addition of a massive new land border with NATO in Finland and then being isolated by NATO in the Baltic/North Atlantic and Arctic domains. The Russian response is to advance a grievance narrative, proving popular at home, and more concrete plans for new military units in the contested domains. There is hope, in Moscow’s eyes, in the possibility of Ankara scuttling the Alliance’s plan. While there are costs to Finland and a lesser extent, Sweden, both countries are resolved to move forward. See another excellent analysis from TextOre’s Miranda Alsop to learn more.

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