Finland and Sweden are going NATO due to stupid Russian threats, after being neutral through all the Cold War and its aftermath.
The Finns also famously hate the Russians due to the first half of the 20th century - or more exactly the Leninists, as they used to be Swedish hating Empire loyalists until Lenin & Stalin came around (Mannenheim even kept his Imperial medals on him during the Winter War). Similar to the Estonians.
They responded because Russia invaded Ukraine. If Russia hadn't done that, nobody would be applying to NATO.
Despite years of Russia violating airspace, territorial waters or other provocations(there is a famous russisn submarine violating Swedish waters recently) they were content in staying outside the alliance, but with Ukraine they saw that an alliance was needed. In fact support to join NATO increased among the Finns and Swedes when the war began.
Finland and Sweden are going NATO due to stupid Russian threats, after being neutral through all the Cold War and its aftermath.
The Finns also famously hate the Russians due to the first half of the 20th century - or more exactly the Leninists, as they used to be Swedish hating Empire loyalists until Lenin & Stalin came around (Mannenheim even kept his Imperial medals on him during the Winter War). Similar to the Estonians.
Nah, they've been doing it for many years.
Not quite.
They responded because Russia invaded Ukraine. If Russia hadn't done that, nobody would be applying to NATO.
Despite years of Russia violating airspace, territorial waters or other provocations(there is a famous russisn submarine violating Swedish waters recently) they were content in staying outside the alliance, but with Ukraine they saw that an alliance was needed. In fact support to join NATO increased among the Finns and Swedes when the war began.
https://www.thelocal.se/20141018/sweden-steps-up-hunt-for-suspected-submarine/