NATO Allies Sign Accession Protocols for Finland, Sweden

MAR 3 2022·Updated JAN 30

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Above: NATO headquarters in Brussels on April 19, 2018. Image credit: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Anti-Russia narrative

Russia's unprovoked war against Ukraine is pushing the two countries closer to NATO membership than ever before, and Moscow's threats against Finland and Sweden have backfired. As sovereign states, they're entitled to choose their own national security strategy and Russia's aggressiveness towards them simply pushes them toward NATO.

Atlantic Council

Pro-Russia narrative

Finland invaded Russia in 1941 together with German troops. NATO's land borders with the Russian Federation will more than double if Sweden and Finland join the alliance. NATO has ignored Russia's security concerns by breaking its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification, and NATO's aerial bombing campaign against Yugoslavia in 1999 is proof of the organization's aggressiveness.