“No problem with these countries”: Putin upon Finland and Sweden joining NATO

The Russian President Vladimir Putin sees no imminent threat if Finland and Sweden decide to join NATO, he said during the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation.

“Speaking about the NATO expansion by means of incorporating Finland and Sweden… Russia has no problem with these countries,” he said. He noted, however, that expanding the military infrastructure will “cause Russia to take countermeasures”. He was not precise on what “measures” Russia may implement.

The CSTO summit resulted in a joint statement: the organisation “is ready to develop practical partnership with NATO”.

Sweden officially decided upon joining NATO yesterday. A formal membership bid has already been written, says Aftonbladet. The government of Finland has also declared its intentions to join the treaty. A formal application will be submitted on 18 May.