Leaders Cite Russian Invasion of Ukraine as a Catalyst for Change in Security Strategy
On Wednesday, Finland and Sweden made a crucial move toward NATO membership, with both countries signaling their intent to join the alliance in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The leaders of both nations, Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, emphasized that the war in Ukraine had drastically altered the security landscape in Europe.
Marin stated that Finland, which shares an extensive border with Russia, would make a decision on applying for NATO membership “quite fast, in weeks, not months.” Despite the risks of angering Moscow, both leaders acknowledged that NATO membership was the only guarantee of security for their countries.
Russia has warned both nations of the consequences of joining NATO, framing it as a provocation, and has stated it would take countermeasures. However, Marin and Andersson stressed that NATO’s Article 5—its collective defense principle—was the ultimate safeguard for national security.
