https://www.wsj.com/articles/russias-cold-war-with-scandinavia-1503961052
Russia’s Cold War With Scandinavia
The Kremlin prepares military maneuvers in the Baltic, as Sweden and Finland sweat.
Consider Sweden and Finland. While they no longer assert their neutrality as they did during the Cold War, the Swedes and Finns are finding it hard politically at home to challenge the perceived benefits of nonalignment. They seem to be playing it safe, with one foot in the NATO camp and the other—even if lightly set down—outside it. But for all the talk of neutrality, Sweden and Finland are as militarily capable as some NATO allies and enjoy a privileged relationship with the alliance.
No longer effectively neutral nor members of a broad military alliance, they are subject to Russia’s belief that they side with NATO. Swedes and Finns have responded robustly to Russian aggression. They have boosted military spending and signed a mutual-support agreement with each other.
During my time as U.S. ambassador to Sweden, trilateral meetings among the U.S., Sweden and Finland were inaugurated and are further tightening military cooperation.
While this close relationship is no substitute for NATO membership, the Russians know the U.S. will not stand idly by should they attack Sweden or Finland. During my tenure, then-Vice President Joe Biden visited Sweden to affirm the American commitment to the region. Vice President Mike Pence has repeated that pledge.
It’s a race against time: Will Sweden and Finland be able to join NATO, escaping this perilous limbo, before Russian aggression overwhelms them? Or will they continue to kick the can down the road, hoping that relations with Russia improve?
