On June 14, 2021, the heads of NATO member states held a summit in Brussels, Belgium, and the challenge of the Chinese Communist Party was officially included on the agenda.Figure: NATO official website
“The Times” reported on the 11th that the European countries Finland and Sweden, which have long pursued a military non-alignment policy, may join NATO as soon as this summer. U.S. officials said the foreign ministers of the two countries attended a NATO foreign ministers meeting last week, during which discussions were held about their NATO membership.
The “Daily Mail” reported that Finland is expected to apply to join NATO in June. Today (11) a Finnish defense report said a Russian military plane violated Finland’s airspace on the country’s southern coast. Finland earlier expelled two Russian diplomats in protest of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Finland will submit an application to join NATO in the next few weeks, former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb said, despite Russia’s warnings of doom.
Polls in Finnish media showed that public opinion was overwhelmingly in favour of joining NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the report said. Finland has pursued a military non-alignment policy since World War II, acting as a buffer zone between East and West during the Cold War, allowing foreign policy flexibility while alleviating Russian fears of Western expansion.
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson also said that the possibility of joining NATO would not be ruled out.
Sweden is conducting a security policy analysis, expected to be completed by the end of May, at which time the government will announce its position, Swedish officials told CNN, though neighbouring Finland could announce its decision sooner if it does so quickly.
Once Finland and Sweden join NATO, the membership will increase to 32. Russia had previously warned that if any of them joined NATO, they would face military consequences and take action to “rebalance the situation”.