Part 6/10:
The transformation in Finnish defense policy was precipitated by Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, changing the calculus of security for both Finland and Sweden. With mounting public support for NATO membership, Finland formally applied to join the alliance, marking a pivotal shift in European security dynamics.
The implications of an expanded NATO, particularly with the simultaneous entrance of Sweden, are profound. Together, they pose significant strategic challenges to Russia. Control over the Baltic Sea, an area of historical tension, would become firmly in NATO’s grasp, thereby threatening Russian naval and air assets in Northern Europe.