On 18 May 2022, Finland and Sweden formally submitted their applications to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO. For both countries, it is a landmark decision. But their quest to join the alliance has already run into problems. In a surprise move, Turkey has objected to their membership. But will it really stand in the way of what many see as a hugely significant enlargement for NATO?

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Russia's invasion of Ukraine has led to a fundamental rethinking of European security. Perhaps the most significant symbol of this has been the decision of Sweden and Finland to apply to join NATO. For both countries, it represents a landmark decision. But while we tend to think of them as being driven by some sort of Nordic neutrality, this isn't really the case. They are rather different from each other. Sweden has been neutral for over 200 years. And Finland has long had a policy of non-alignment deriving from its relationship with neighbouring Russia. Moreover, since the end of the Cold War, with have built top strong ties to NATO. In this sense, joining the alliance is not perhaps as dramatic in real terms as it may seem. The problem is that those hopes may now be obstructed by Turkey.

CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction and Titles
0:44 Alliances in International Relations
2:06 The Creation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact
3:36 NATO Enlargement after the Cold War
5:49 Background to Finland and Sweden
6:57 Finland, Sweden and Nordic 'Neutrality'
10:10 The Path to NATO Membership
11:37 Sweden, Finland and NATO: Turkey's Objections
13:50 Finland and Sweden: NATO Membership in the Balance

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FURTHER READING & USEFUL SOURCES

Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs https://um.fi/frontpage
Sweden Ministry of Foreign Affairs https://www.government.se/government-of-sweden/ministry-for-foreign-affairs/
NATO https://www.nato.int
Atlantic Charter https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_16912.htm
North Atlantic Treaty https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_17120.htm

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Secession and State Creation: What Everyone Needs to Know https://amzn.to/2MPY3W2 [PRE-ORDER]
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The Foreign Policy of Counter-Secession https://amzn.to/2Qinm5t
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KEYWORDS

#Sweden #Finland #NATO
#InternationalPolitics #CurrentAffairs #InternationalRelations
#Statehood #Independence #Security
#InternationalLaw #InternationalHistory

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