Sweden and Finland have officially applied for membership in NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
NATO has also unanimously agreed to grant membership to Sweden and Finland, saying it would take a year to complete the membership process.
Western media have reported that Sweden and Finland’s application for NATO membership has caused strong opposition from Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that the decision by Sweden and Finland was a “slap in the face” to Russian President Putin.
Unlike Sweden, Finland is a neighbor of Russia, and the border between Russia and Finland is 1,340 km.
At the request of Sweden and Finland’s NATO membership, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will take immediate steps to establish nuclear weapons on the Russian – Finnish border.
Until now, Sweden and Finland have served as NATO-backed states and have taken impartial decisions in regional crises. The purpose of establishing NATO is to counter the threats posed by Russia. Thirty countries have become members of NATO.
Sweden and Finland apply for NATO membership, citing Russia’s military action against Ukraine. Russia invaded Ukraine because Ukraine was a pro-NATO state and favored NATO membership.
Ukraine is Russia’s closest neighbor, and Russia believes that granting NATO membership to Ukraine would pose a serious threat to Russia’s national security. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will take military action against Ukraine, preventing NATO from expanding.
(Reuters)
