Finland and Sweden, Applying for NATO Membership Simultaneously, Also Jointly Advancing Arms Purchases

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Finland and Sweden, which simultaneously declared their accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), also announced plans to jointly purchase weapons. The two countries are expected to significantly increase their military cooperation to jointly respond to Russia's military pressure in the future.

On the 18th (local time), according to CNN, the Finnish Ministry of Defense announced that it had jointly signed an anti-tank weapons purchase agreement with Saab Dynamics, a subsidiary of the Swedish defense company Saab, along with Sweden. Antti Kaikkonen, Finland's Minister of Defense, stated, "We will be able to jointly purchase missiles, recoilless rifles, and ammunition," adding, "We have also approved the joint purchase of small arms such as automatic rifles and shotguns." He emphasized, "The joint procurement of weapons by the two countries will greatly help secure defense equipment."

Despite strong opposition from Russia, the two countries abandoned their long-standing neutrality policies and declared their NATO membership. Finland formally abandoned its neutrality policy for the first time in 74 years since 1948, and Sweden did so for the first time in 208 years since 1814. NATO headquarters stated that most NATO countries support the accession of the two countries, and the process will proceed as quickly as possible.

The fact that the two countries simultaneously declared NATO membership and jointly signed a weapons purchase agreement is interpreted as a move to strengthen future military cooperation. Russia has strongly opposed the NATO accession of the two countries and expressed its opposition. The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement regarding the decision of the two countries, saying, "The choice of national security guarantees is a sovereign right of each country, but Russia's basic position is that this should not create a threat to the security of other countries," warning that it will monitor the military responses of the two countries in the future.

Meanwhile, the biggest hurdle to the NATO accession of the two countries is known to lie in Turkey's approval. The Turkish government opposes the approval of their accession, remaining the biggest obstacle to the unanimous consent required for NATO membership. The Turkish government is reportedly presenting various demands to the West, including that the two countries stop supporting the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), an armed Kurdish separatist group operating within Turkey, and resume the purchase of F-35 fighter jets, which the United States had previously halted.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.