Sweden’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the Russian ambassador to Stockholm following his recent comments on the country's NATO bid. The ambassador had said that if Sweden and Finland

join NATO, the countries would become “legitimate targets for Russian retaliatory measures, including those of a military nature.” The Nordic countries applied to join NATO last year, after abandoning their military neutrality in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In a statement shared on the Russian embassy's Facebook page, the ambassador claimed that if Sweden and Finland joined NATO, the alliance's borders with Russia would almost double. The move would not improve Europe’s security, but rather create new NATO members that could become targets for Russian military retaliation.

The Russian ambassador’s comments have been deemed by the Swedish Foreign Ministry as “an attempt at interference” and prompted the summoning of the ambassador. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said that the ministry was making a clear statement against the blatant attempt at influence.

The joint bid by Sweden and Finland to become NATO members has faced several obstacles, including diplomatic rows with Turkey and Hungary. Turkey announced this month that it intends to ratify Finland’s bid, while Hungary’s parliament has already approved it. However, Sweden’s bid remains pending.

To become a member of the alliance, a new country needs the unanimous approval of all 30 member states. The joint NATO bid by the Nordic countries has faced numerous challenges, but Sweden and Finland maintain that joining the alliance is necessary for their national security.

Russia has been increasingly assertive in recent years, annexing Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and stoking conflict in eastern Ukraine. The country has also been accused of interference in foreign elections, cyberattacks, and espionage. Russia’s actions have led to concerns among neighboring countries, including Sweden and Finland, about their security and prompted their interest in joining NATO.

The Russian ambassador’s comments are just the latest in a series of tensions between Russia and neighboring countries. The Baltic states, which joined NATO in 2004, have also faced threats from Russia, including airspace violations and military exercises near their borders. The ongoing tensions between Russia and neighboring countries highlight the need for continued diplomatic efforts to maintain stability in the region. Photo: Sergeant Paul Shaw LBIPP (Army)/MOD, Wikimedia commons.