Finland, Sweden, Nato talk

WARSAW: Finland and Sweden joined Nato leaders at the top table for the first time yesterday as Russian military build-up pushes them closer to the Western military alliance.

At Nato’s summit dinner in Warsaw, Sweden and Finland will sit with US President Barack Obama, Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg and other leaders to a background of deepening co-operation that includes taking part in exercises and missions.

“We are inviting Finland and Sweden because they are really close friends of Nato,” Stoltenberg said, noting the countries’ location on the Baltic Sea, where Russia is increasing its military presence.

But Sweden, and even more so Finland, which has more than 1 300km of border with Russia, know any move to join the alliance would create a backlash in Moscow.

“We would have to go through a phase of Russia’s initial reaction that wouldn’t be positive,” said Finland’s former prime minister, Alexander Stubb, who supports joining.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Helsinki last week and hinted he would move troops closer to Finland’s border if it joined.

Moscow says moves by Helsinki and Stockholm towards closer ties with Nato are of “special concern” to Russia, which has opposed Nato’s eastward expansion. A Swedish poll showed 49 percent of Swedes opposed joining, 33 percent were in favour. Most Finns are against joining. – Reuters