Sweden and Finland are rapidly striving to join NATO

Stockholm Jonas Gahr Støre exuded optimism. The head of government of the NATO country Norway predicted on Wednesday that the admission process of Finland and Sweden could be drastically accelerated. And the Norwegian newspaper “VG” even claims to have learned from NATO circles that both countries could gain access to the defense alliance “within a few weeks”.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also promised a “very swift procedure”. This process usually takes between several months and a year.

Finland and Sweden are aspiring to join NATO. It is an about-face that was unthinkable just a few months ago. How far will Russian President Vladimir Putin go? Will he leave it at his attack on Ukraine? It is the unpredictable dangers from the east that make both countries seek protection under the umbrella of the North Atlantic Defense Alliance.