Russia Ukraine War: Will Russia attack Finland, Sweden? | After Finland, Sweden next join NATO

Following Finland's entry into NATO on Tuesday, Sweden is believed to be next in line to join the alliance. Sweden, a non-aligned country, has been increasing its military cooperation with NATO in recent years and has expressed interest in joining the alliance. The move comes amidst growing concerns about Russian aggression in the Baltic Sea region, particularly following the annexation of Crimea and the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. The Russian government has been highly critical of NATO's expansion in the region, warning that it poses a threat to Russian national security. However, NATO officials have emphasized that the alliance is a defensive organization and poses no threat to Russia. They have also pointed out that NATO has made repeated efforts to engage with Russia and seek a constructive relationship. Sweden's potential membership in NATO could help to further deter Russian aggression in the region and provide a boost to NATO's efforts to promote stability and security in Europe. It would also strengthen the alliance's military capabilities, as Sweden is a key regional power with a well-equipped and well-trained military. While Sweden has not yet officially applied for membership in NATO, it has been taking steps to deepen its cooperation with the alliance. In 2019, Sweden signed a Host Nation Support agreement with NATO, allowing the alliance to use Swedish territory for military exercises and operations. Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist has also been pushing for closer cooperation with NATO and has expressed support for joining the alliance. However, any decision to join NATO would be subject to a public referendum, which could be contentious given Sweden's long history of military non-alignment. Despite these challenges, the prospect of Sweden joining NATO is viewed by many as a positive development for the alliance and for Europe as a whole. It would help to further strengthen the alliance's presence in the Baltic Sea region and provide a counterbalance to Russian aggression. However, it is also likely to provoke a strong reaction from Moscow, which has already warned of "countermeasures" in response to Finland's entry into NATO. The Russian government has accused NATO of trying to encircle Russia and has criticized the alliance's efforts to expand its presence in the region. #nato #sweden #finland #usa #russia #ukraine #warzone #ukrainerussiacrisis #russiaukrainewar #india Subscribe to The Times of India's YouTube channel: http://goo.gl/WgIatu For daily news & updates and exclusive stories, follow the Times of India Facebook:   / timesofindia   Instagram:   / timesofindia   Download the app: http://toi.in/3SLUCa80 Follow TOI+ for well-researched and in-depth news and analysis Facebook:   / timesofindiaplus   Twitter:   / toiplus   Instagram:   / toi_plus