Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has united the west in opposition. Nato member states have cascaded weapons into Ukraine, taken in Ukrainian refugees and imposed severe sanctions on Russia.
The enlargement of Nato was cited by Russian President Vladamir Putin as one of the key threats to Russian security that prompted the invasion of Ukraine. So the announcement by Sweden and Finland that they would abandon their long-held military neutrality and join Nato is another blow to Russia.
Nato members generally have welcomed this development and the Baltic states, in particular, signalled enthusiastic approval. In order for new Nato members to be accepted, all 30 existing members have to agree to accept them. But Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has objections to Sweden and Finland joining the alliance.
