Finland and Sweden work towards NATO alliance

Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson have met in Stockholm to discuss regional security matters in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The meeting in Stockholm comes less than two months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has altered the regional security picture in Scandinavia.

Both countries will begin a debate that could see it putting forth an application to join the NATO military alliance that it already cooperates with.

Russia has repeatedly said NATO expansion is a thorn in its side, while NATO maintains the alliance is defensive in nature.

Moscow has already expressed its disapproval to the two situations. In fellow non-NATO member state Sweden, Russia’s war against its neighbor Ukraine has also provoked anxiety, as well as a political about-face on the country’s question of military non-alignment