May 16, 2022, 11:01am
The Prime Minister of Sweden said Monday that her country will apply to join NATO, shortly after Russian President Putin warned there will be consequences if Sweden and Finland join NATO.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Moscow on Monday.
On the same day that Sauli Niinisto announced his country's intention to join the alliance, Andersson confirmed Sweden's NATO bid.
Speaking at a meeting in Moscow with several Kremlin-aligned leaders, Putin said that Sweden and Finland joining NATO would cause a response.
A land border between Russia and the military alliance of NATO would be created by the bids of Sweden and Finland, which would break a long history of neutrality for the Nordic countries.
Russia will see what threats are created for us if Nordic neighbors join NATO, according to Putin.
The Kremlin has previously suggested it may respond to NATO accessions with nuclear weapons.
The deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council said last month that Russia could deploy nuclear weapons in the Baltic Sea if NATO joined.
The New York Times reported that Putin said he has no problem with the two NATO members joining. The Russian Foreign Ministry said last week that the move would threaten stability and security.
Russian electricity provider Inter RAO cut off exports toFinland on Saturday in an apparent response to its plans to apply for NATO membership.
Whether Turkey will stop Sweden from joining NATO. Turkey's President said Friday that he does not support the countries' bid to join the alliance, which is a major roadblock to NATO accession.
How quickly the U.S. ratifies NATO applications. Senate Minority LeaderMitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a joint press conference with Niinisto that he believes Congress will approve the application before the legislature goes on vacation. McConnell said Sunday that he supports both NATO bids.
Since NATO's inception in 1949, Sweden and Finland have remained neutral, but have become more closely linked to the alliance after Russia invaded and annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia was cited by both countries as a key reason for their NATO bids.
Putin dislikes NATO as Russia cuts off electricity.
Both Sweden and Finland want to join NATO. Here is how it works and what will happen next.
From neutral to NATO, how Sweden shifted over the Russia invasion.
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