Sweden

Commentary

Apr 19, 2024

(l-r) Flags of NATO, Sweden, and Finland at an event in Espoo, Finland, March 26, 2024, photo by STT-Lehtikuva/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect

Sweden, Finland, and NATO's First-Class Airpower Upgrade

After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Finland and Sweden—both longtime neutral states—decided to join NATO. What do these new alliance members bring to the air fight, and how does this impact NATO strategy in the Baltics?

Commentary

Mar 22, 2024

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (r), with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson during the NATO ratification ceremony as Sweden formally joins NATO at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., March 7, 2024, photo by Chuck Kennedy/ABACA via Reuters Connect

What Sweden's Accession Means for NATO

Russia's failed invasion of Ukraine pushed neutral Sweden to embrace a role in NATO's collective defence and security. With this addition, NATO's toolkit gains Sweden's ground and air combat, nearshore and undersea warfare capabilities, as well as the country's expertise in niche areas such as cold weather operations.

Commentary

Apr 4, 2023

Finland's flag is raised at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, April 4, 2023, photo by EyePress News/Reuters

Finland Joins NATO, Sweden's Accession Remains Uncertain

Finland is at long last joining NATO, having applied together with Sweden last year in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Finland's accession represents a boon to NATO, a radical change in Finnish foreign and security policy, and another unplanned setback for Russia.

Commentary

Aug 12, 2022

U.S. President Joe Biden, alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, Swedish Ambassador to the U.S. Karin Olofsdotter and Finnish Ambassador to the U.S. Mikko Hautala, signs documents endorsing Finland's and Sweden's accession to NATO, at the White House, in Washington, D.C., August 9, 2022, photo by Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Finnish and Swedish NATO Membership: Toward a Larger, Stronger, Smarter Alliance

Finland and Sweden are poised to become full NATO members in the near future. The Nordic pair's entry into NATO means that alliance leaders and planners confront new challenges, and just as many opportunities.

Commentary

Mar 3, 2022

Sweden's Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist, Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde, Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto and Finland's Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen pose during a photo call in Stockholm, Sweden, February 2, 2022, photo by Paul Wennerholm/ TT News Agency via Reuters

Complex—but Promising—Prospects as Finland and Sweden Mull NATO Membership

After decades of military neutrality between NATO and Russia, recent events saw a potential sea-change in how Finland and Sweden consider their role with the NATO alliance. NATO leadership could start planning now so that if Sweden and Finland make the jump to joining the alliance, they can be welcomed in quickly.

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Sweden

Sweden

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