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Finland and Sweden have long maintained the status of "permanently neutral" countries, and have firmly pursued a policy of neutrality in both peacetime and war, and have never favored either side. However, the world situation is ever-changing, and now the two countries seem to have new intentions, and the fragile surface of neutrality has begun to crack. Not long ago, some media reported that Finland and Sweden were interested in joining NATO, the world's largest military organization, and the latest news shows that the two countries are moving much faster than expected, and the pendulum of neutrality seems to be about to stop swinging.
According to the latest reports from a number of authoritative media, on May 18, Beijing time, Finnish Foreign Minister Haavisto signed the country's application to join NATO and formally put forward the request. At the same time, Swedish Foreign Minister Lindh also officially signed Sweden's NATO membership application. In order to achieve this goal, the governments of Finland and Sweden have gone through difficult procedures over the past month, including numerous consultations between the parliaments, security services and foreign affairs of the two countries. Surprisingly, the two countries do not seem to encounter much resistance internally, and they reached an agreement in just one month, which is enough to show the tension brought to the two countries by the Russian-Ukrainian war.
In addition, Finland and Sweden have actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to win the support of European countries such as Germany and France. Soon after, Finnish President Niinistö and Swedish Prime Minister Andersson also plan to travel to Washington for face-to-face communication with US President Joe Biden. However, despite the support of the United States, Germany and France, Turkey has become an insurmountable obstacle, and Russia has expressed its opposition to another NATO expansion.
According to the NATO Constitution, new members can only be admitted with the unanimous consent of all member states. However, Turkey, as a member of NATO, has clearly expressed its opposition to the accession of Finland and Sweden. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would not agree to join NATO by countries that support sanctions against Turkey. He also warned Swedish Foreign Minister Lindh and Finnish Foreign Minister Haavisto, who are about to visit Turkey, suggesting their efforts could be in vain.
Russia has also taken a more visible move, sending launchers loaded with Iskander ballistic missiles to the Finnish border. The missiles have a range of nearly 500 kilometers and can carry nuclear warheads throughout Finland.
So why did Russia and Ukraine reach a "united front" on this issue, opposing Finland and Sweden joining NATO? There are deeper reasons for this. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made it clear that Turkey's opposition to Finland and Sweden's entry into NATO is due to their refusal to repatriate suspects linked to the Gulen movement and the PKK, as well as restrictions on exports of defense equipment to Turkey. These two issues relate to the core interests of the Erdogan regime and domestic stability. Therefore, he used NATO membership as a bargaining chip to try to get something in return.
At a deeper level, the United States is behind the support of the Gulen movement and the PKK in an attempt to weaken the Erdogan regime, which poses a threat to Turkey. The United States once pinned its hopes on color revolutions and tried to create chaos in the Middle East and facilitate its own confrontation with China and Russia. Turkey has been a target, with the United States inciting discontent with Erdogan's government and supporting internal and external opposition. Therefore, Turkey believes that Finland and Sweden are challenging Erdogan's bottom line by shielding the Gulen Movement and the PKK, which Erdogan cannot tolerate.
Finland and Sweden now seem to be in a dilemma, weighing whether to give up their neutral status in exchange for NATO support. However, Turkey is not easy to deal with, and they need to tread carefully while being prepared to pay the price, whether it is to repatriate the suspects or expand the export of military equipment. Turkey's current economic situation is also not optimistic, and it may need to face requests for economic assistance.
In general, the world situation is complex and changeable, and relations between countries are complex
At this time of uncertainty, countries are actively adjusting their international policies and strategies to respond to the changing global situation. Finland and Sweden's decision to join NATO is part of this adjustment in international policy. The two countries, once neutral, now face pressure and challenges from multiple directions, forcing them to reassess their security needs and international positioning.
Finland and Sweden's decision to join NATO was not hasty. After much reflection and careful consideration, the two countries realized that a policy of neutrality alone was no longer sufficient to ensure their national security. The aggravation of the situation in Ukraine and Russia's actions deeply disturbed Finland and Sweden. They realized that to exert greater influence and status in international affairs, participating in NATO was a wise choice. It is also an act of self-preservation to ensure that it does not fall victim to geopolitical games.
Turkey, as a member of NATO, has put forward a number of conditions and requirements for the accession of Finland and Sweden. This involves sensitive geopolitical issues, such as those related to the PKK. Turkey sees this as a matter of internal security and territorial integrity and is therefore cautious about both countries. However, Finland and Sweden are also reluctant to compromise on domestic policies, which complicates and difficulties negotiations. The two sides need to find a balance between balancing their own interests and international cooperation to ensure smooth NATO membership.
At the same time, Russia's reaction cannot be ignored. Despite Russia's relative restraint in Finland and Sweden's accession to NATO, it remains vigilant. Russia has been wary of NATO expansion, which it sees as a threat to its national security. Therefore, Russia will closely monitor this development and take appropriate measures to defend its interests.
In conclusion, the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO marks a change in the international landscape. The status of a neutral state is no longer sufficient in the current international environment, and countries need to adjust to their own security needs. However, this decision was not unthoughtful and required complex negotiations and consultations on the relevant issues. In the future, the international community will continue to follow this development in the hope of seeing more countries take positive actions to maintain global peace and security. At this time of challenge and opportunity, foreign policy and decision-making will play a key role in building a more stable international order.
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