Russia warns that NATO entry would make Sweden and Finland “legitimate targets” for “military retaliation”.

Sweden summoned the Russian ambassador after he said the country and neighboring Finland would become “legitimate targets” after joining NATO.

In a statement on the embassy’s website, Viktor Tatarintsev warned that the two Nordic countries would face “retaliation”, including “military ones”, if they joined the international military alliance.

Sweden and Finland both applied for NATO membership shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year. The two countries hope to complete the process this year.

The threat against the countries is Russia’s latest attempt at a show of force against the West after it emerged that the Kremlin was organizing large-scale nuclear missile exercises.

Russia’s ambassador in Stockholm, Viktor Tatarintsev, said Sweden and Finland would become “legitimate targets” of “retaliation”, including “military ones”, if they joined NATO

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström announced today: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will summon the Russian ambassador to make a clear statement against this blatant attempt at influence.”

“Sweden’s security policy is determined by Sweden – by no one else,” he added.

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Both Sweden and Finland have been associated with NATO for decades now, but public opinion in the countries was against formal membership of the alliance before the Russian invasion.

However, some polls suggest that up to 80 percent in Finland and more than two-thirds in Sweden favor joining NATO now that Ukraine is at war.

Since making their intentions clear, Sweden and Finland, which share a 1,340 kilometer border with Russia, have come under repeated threats from Moscow.

But all 30 NATO members must ratify a country’s application for membership if it wants to join.

Finland is currently waiting for Turkey to ratify its membership.

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan undertook to do this after the Finnish President Sauli Niinisto’s visit earlier this month.

However, it was reported yesterday that Hungary is currently blocking Sweden’s NATO entry over Stockholm’s criticism of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s policies.

A Hungarian government spokesman addressed the matter on Wednesday, saying bridging the gap would require efforts from both sides.

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto signs the NATO Act on March 23, 2023 in Helsinki, Finland. All 30 NATO countries must now ratify membership

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto (left) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attend a press conference after their meeting earlier this month in Ankara, Turkey

After months of hesitation by Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party, Hungary’s parliament approved a bill to bring Finland into NATO on Monday, but Sweden’s bill still stalled.

“In the case of Sweden, there are a large number of grievances that need to be addressed before the country’s admission is ratified,” Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said on his blog.

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Swedish officials “have repeatedly been intent on hitting Hungary with diplomatic means and using their political influence to harm Hungarian interests,” he said, referring to Sweden’s criticism of the Orbán government’s erosion of the rule of law the past years. Orban denies these allegations.

He said Stockholm had for years taken a “hostile attitude” towards Budapest.

“Adding Ankara’s woes and ailments doesn’t leave much leeway, at least not until the Swedes start to change their tune and heal these lingering wounds,” Kovacs said.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said last week that Turkey’s parliament would also begin to ratify Finland’s accession.

The latest threat against Sweden and Finland comes after it emerged that Vladimir Putin had organized large-scale nuclear missile exercises involving 3,000 troops.

The war games in combination with the recent comments are seen as a blatant attempt at a show of force against the West.

Vladimir Putin’s forces are testing the “invincible” Yars ICBM system in three regions of Russia.

The launch of Russia’s “invincible” Yars ICBM system in October

Vladimir Putin is organizing major nuclear missile exercises involving 3,000 of his troops