In a statement on his social media account, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev mentioned the possibility of Sweden and Finland joining NATO. Noting that the possibility of these countries joining NATO is often discussed, Medvedev said, “Sweden and Finland are discussing the possibility of joining NATO with brutal seriousness. “The alliance itself is ready to accept them literally ‘under white hands’ as soon as possible and with minimal bureaucratic procedures,” he said.
‘IF SWEDEN AND FINLAND JOIN NATO…’
Answering how Russia would respond to such a move, Medvedev warned that if Sweden and Finland joined NATO, Russia would more than double its troops on the western flank and said, “How many countries are in NATO? When we look at it as a whole, there are 30 or 32 countries for us. 2 less or 2 more, it doesn’t matter much. If Sweden and Finland join NATO, the land borders of the alliance with Russia will more than double in length. Naturally, these boundaries will need to be strengthened. To seriously strengthen the grouping of ground forces and air defense, significant naval forces should be deployed in the waters of the Gulf of Finland. In this case, it will no longer be possible to talk about any non-nuclear status of the Baltic. “We need to rebalance it,” he said.
‘WE HAVE NO LAND DISPUTES WITH THESE COUNTRIES’
Responding to the allegations that if Russia had not launched a military operation against Ukraine, the possibility of Sweden and Finland’s inclusion in NATO would not be discussed, Medvedev said, “If there was no special operation in Ukraine, the possibility of these countries joining NATO would not have arisen and that the situation would be Russia. There’s no point in suggesting that it will be easier for you. First, attempts have been made before to lure them into alliance. Secondly and most importantly, we do not have territorial disputes with these countries as in Ukraine. Therefore, the criteria for membership are different for us.”
‘Nobody in their sane…’
Arguing that the Swedish and Finnish people will not be dragged into such an event, Medvedev said, “The need for NATO participation in Sweden and Finland has divided the public in half. “No one in their right mind would want higher prices and taxes, increased tensions across borders, Alexander missiles, hypersonic and nuclear-armed ships within arm’s length of their home,” he said.
UAV