Finland and Sweden have formally submitted requests to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The two Nordic countries remained neutral during the Cold War, even as Washington and Moscow faced each other on several occasions. Now, the two have sought to safeguard NATO’s pact of mutual defense, by which an attack on one is considered an act of aggression against all, including its leader, the US.
The shield sought is against Russia, whose resolve to halt NATO expansion has been nullified. If Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, which was in sync with the Western Coalition, was intended as a warning shot over the bow of NATO, it has clearly been the opposite, as even more European nations now want. Huh. Sweden and Finland’s accession requires NATO consent, but Turkey has resisted it because they have bones to spare for their alleged support of a domestic insurgency. Meanwhile, in our hemisphere, China has expressed deep disquiet with US efforts to create an “Asian NATO”, a possible reference to the four-nation quad of which India is a member. Beijing may huff and hiss, but we must do the best we can to protect us.