Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Celerity

(42,666 posts)
Fri May 20, 2022, 01:17 PM May 2022

Explained: How might Russia react to Sweden and Finland joining Nato?

One of the big unknowns of Sweden's Nato process is how Russia will respond. We run through the options.

https://www.thelocal.se/20220519/explained-how-might-russia-react-to-sweden-and-finland-joining-nato/

https://web.archive.org/web/20220520015807/https://www.thelocal.se/20220519/explained-how-might-russia-react-to-sweden-and-finland-joining-nato/



Sweden’s rush towards membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato), arguably starts with the draft treaty Russia published on December 17th, which sought to bar Sweden and Finland from joining the alliance by demanding that the US “undertake to prevent” its “further eastward expansion”. Five months later, this gambit has backfired completely: Russia has ended up creating the very situation it sought to prevent.

So what will Russia do?


The Swedish government’s report assessing Nato membership concluded last week that Russia “would react negatively to a Swedish Nato membership”. “Nato does not seek confrontation with Russia, nor does it constitute a threat to Russia,” the report claims. “In recent years, however, Russia has chosen to increasingly view Nato as a geopolitical competitor and opposes the addition of new members. For Russia’s part, Swedish membership would be described as Nato advancing its position.”

How has Russia reacted so far?

In the months running up to Sweden’s and Finland’s Nato decision, Russian officials warned repeatedly that the two country’s joining Nato would have negative consequences. Russia’s former president Dmitry Medvedev in mid-April warned of nuclear escalation. “If this is done, no non-nuclear status of the Baltic will be possible,” he said. “The balance must be restored.”

The result for Sweden and Finland, he continued, would be nuclear-armed Russian ships just “arm’s length” from their homes. Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned on Monday that the two countries’ decision to join the Nato was a “grave mistake with far-reaching consequences” and that “the general level of military tensions will increase”.

snip
4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Explained: How might Russia react to Sweden and Finland joining Nato? (Original Post) Celerity May 2022 OP
Russia should have thought of the possible consequences TheRealNorth May 2022 #1
Russia is bringing about what they feared most iemanja May 2022 #2
I think it is safe to say Tickle May 2022 #3
Our best hope...which is probably more of a wet dream Submariner May 2022 #4

iemanja

(53,003 posts)
2. Russia is bringing about what they feared most
Fri May 20, 2022, 01:20 PM
May 2022

They feel threatened by the expansion of NATO, but their invasion of the Ukraine has prompted more countries to join. Their war in the Ukraine has directly undermined their foreign policy goals.

As to what they will do, I don't think they can do much about it. They don't have the military strength to attack other countries in addition to the Ukraine.

Submariner

(12,485 posts)
4. Our best hope...which is probably more of a wet dream
Fri May 20, 2022, 01:49 PM
May 2022

is if someone internally can kill Putin soon, or even better if he died from his cancer, or other natural cause.

Then someone has to release Navalny and let him make a bid to be president without a Putinista putting their thumb on the scale, or just killing him.

If they don't take a chance from coming out from under this fantasy return of the Russian Empire dream, and remain the scourge of the planet, then we will probably eventually observe the 1.5 Billion Chinese annex the lowly 140 Million Russians as their permanent gas station pump attendants to the north.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Explained: How might Russ...