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Sweden Joins as the 32nd Member, Completing NATO's 'Baltic Sea Russian Encirclement'

From '200-Year Neutral Nation' to Western Alliance

On February 26th, Sweden, historically a neutral country, effectively confirmed its membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), marking a significant shift prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This move has not only unified the West further but has also allowed NATO to encircle and pressure Russia from the Baltic Sea, bringing the alliance right to Russia's doorstep. Facing this encroachment, Russia has revived and expanded previously disbanded military organizations, continuing a 'strong against strong' confrontation.

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According to the Associated Press and other sources, the Hungarian Parliament approved Sweden's NATO membership, the last of the member countries to do so. This comes nearly two years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine prompted Sweden to abandon its over 200-year stance of neutrality and seek NATO membership, achieving its goal in just 19 months. With the completion of remaining procedures, NATO's membership will expand to 32 countries.

Following Finland's accession in April of the previous year, Sweden's membership effectively grants NATO complete control over the Baltic Sea. With Denmark, Germany, Poland, and the three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) already members, all coastal nations surrounding the Baltic Sea, except for Russia, are part of NATO. This situation severely limits Russia's access to the Atlantic and places its second-largest city, Saint Petersburg, within the closest range of NATO forces.

Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave situated between the Baltic countries and Poland, finds itself isolated from the mainland. Known as a key military hub and the location for missile bases capable of carrying nuclear warheads, its connection to Russia is primarily through the "Suwalki Corridor," a narrow strip of land running through Belarus, Lithuania, and Poland. With Sweden's inclusion, NATO can easily block this passage, effectively isolating Kaliningrad further. Anna Wieslander, Director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council, told The New York Times that Sweden could serve as a forward base for NATO, providing logistical support and medical facilities for U.S. and NATO forces.

Sweden's military capabilities are also noteworthy, with defense spending surpassing the NATO target of 2% of GDP. Known for its advanced military equipment, including Patriot missiles, and its long history of military cooperation with NATO, Sweden's armed forces are a significant addition to the alliance. Especially, Sweden has fortified the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, turning it into a formidable military stronghold against Russian aggression.

The unity and expansion of Western alliances in response to Russian militarism, as seen with Sweden's NATO membership, are widely regarded as a strategic failure for Russia. The New York Times suggests that this outcome of Ukraine's invasion was unexpected by Russian President Vladimir Putin. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed this sentiment, highlighting the strategic losses Russia faces due to its aggression towards Ukraine.

As the war enters its third year, there's growing international momentum to increase support for Ukraine. Some NATO and European Union (EU) countries are even considering deploying troops to Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron, after a summit in Paris, stated that while there was no formal agreement on ground troops, all options should remain on the table to prevent a Russian victory.

In response to Western pressures, Russia is not remaining passive. President Putin signed a decree to reestablish the Moscow and Leningrad military districts, which were merged into the Western Military District in 2010. This move comes as NATO expands, perceived by Russia as an increasing threat in the northwest, prompting a revival and strengthening of its military organizations after 14 years.

By Wiyong Sung, Reporter

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미디어1 (media@koreatimes.net)