Russian soldiers and map of Nato

Magdalena Andersson will reportedly apply to join Nato at a summit in Madrid scheduled for this June (Picture: Reuters)

Leaders in Stockholm have made up their minds, according to reports in Swedish media, and will apply for membership in the coming months.

Prime minister Magdalena Andersson and other party leaders have decided their ‘goal is for Sweden to join NATO in June this year’, the SVD outlet reported.

She met with Finland’s leader today, who said her country would make a decision within weeks on whether to join.

With the two likely to act in tandem, it tees up a potentially tense situation on the continent’s eastern flank.

Sweden and Finland are in a minority group of six that are members of the European Union but Nato, along with Austria, Cyprus, Ireland and Malta.

A senior Nato leader made it clear to both countries that the door was open to them amid reports both are prepared to reassess long-standing foreign policy stances after the Ukraine invasion.

Russia moves heavy military equipment towards Finland border after warning them NOT to join NATO Map Picture: metro.co.uk
Nato’s geographic footprint would be increased and run further along
Russia’s border if Sweden and Finland join
epa09887667 Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson (L) receives Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin prior to a meeting in Stockholm, Sweden, 13 April 2022. The two officials will have talks that are expected to focus on developments following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the possible seeking to gain NATO membership. EPA/PAUL WENNERHOLM SWEDEN OUT
Swedish and Finnish PM’s Magdalena Andersson and Sanna Marin are discussing Nato membership and how to respond to Russia today (Picture: EPA)

Admiral Rob Bauer, chair of the military committee, said on Tuesday that it is the sovereign right of countries to decide if they want to ask to become members.

Speaking to reporters in Seoul, Bauer said Nato was not a demanding association, and had not pressured any state to join, or for any countries to provide weapons to Ukraine.

Anonymous US officials said Vladimir Putin has made a ‘major strategic blunder’ by pushing countries who have rejected Nato for decades towards joining.

The alliance’s expansion into areas formerly within Moscow’s sphere of influence and Ukraine’s desire to join are a key factor behind the ongoing war.

Discussions about both Sweden and Finland becoming members have been ‘a topic of conversation and multiple sessions’ involving Nato leaders, an official told The Times earlier this week.

Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist visits military base in Adazi, Latvia April 13, 2022. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
Swedish defence minister Peter Hultqvist is visiting a military base in Latvia today and the country’s troops have taken part in Nato drills (Picture: Reuters)

Finland’s prime minister Sanna Marin has confirmed she is considering applying, saying ‘Russia is not the neighbour we thought it was’.

Speaking to reporters in Stockholm where she is holding talks with her Swedish counterpart, the Finnish leader said: ‘There are different perspectives to apply (for) Nato membership or not to apply and we have to analyse these very carefully.

‘But I think our process will be quite fast, it will happen in weeks.’

The Kremlin has already signalled its anger at prospect of the alliance growing further and increasing its footprint along Russia’s Western border.

On Monday, Mr Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: ‘We have repeatedly said that the alliance remains a tool geared towards confrontation and its further expansion will not bring stability to the European continent.’

Source:metro.co.uk/2022/04/13