In Ongoing Russia Ukraine Conflict, Finland and Sweden Knock on NATO’s Door

Video Above: Patriot Interceptor Missiles & F-35s Could Defend NATOs Eastern Flank Together

By Kris Osborn – President & Editor-In-Chief, Warrior Maven

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says both Finland and Sweden are “close” to joining NATO, a development which would doubtless further reshape the alliance’s security posture on the Eastern front.

NATO Finland and Sweden

“NATO is also close to welcoming two new members to the Alliance, and Finland and Sweden have made the historic decisions to apply for membership, and that reflects the appeal of NATO’s core values,” Austin said following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels, Belgium.

There are a variety of key ways in which Sweden and Finland would greatly impact the NATO alliance, beyond simply expanding its size and geographical reach. For instance, Finland has now formally become an F-35 customer, joining a growing group of European countries capable of participating in data-sharing, multinational F-35 formations across the continent.

The largest impact, perhaps, is simply that Finland borders Russia and opens up a large Northern corridor through which NATO could enter Russian territory if needed. Part of this proximity also means that short-and-medium range ballistic missiles would be in position to reach deeper into Russian territory if needed. 

F-35s and Abrams Tanks

The geographical dynamics here pertain not only to armored formations or 5th-generation air power but also surveillance. The ranges of next-generation drones and surveillance planes are such that real-time video feeds from strategically critical areas within Russia could be gathered and sent more quickly from closer-in-ranges. From a purely tactical point of view, having both Sweden and Finland as NATO members would immeasurable strengthen NATO’s deterrence posture and prospects for victory in the event of a major war with Russia.