FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 12, 2022
Contact: press@defensepriorities.org
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Finland announced that the country will apply for NATO membership. Sweden is expected to make a similar announcement soon. Defense Priorities Policy Director Benjamin H. Friedman issued the following statement in response:
“The United States should carefully debate NATO expansion to Finland and Sweden, not proceed swiftly in a knee-jerk attempt to punish Russia. At stake is adding two more states Americans might fight a war for—or use nuclear weapons to defend. Neither states’ membership adds to the security of the United States. So U.S. support should probably be withheld, especially for Finland, at least absent assurances from European states that they will take the lead in defending these Nordic countries if necessary, rather than relying, as usual, on U.S. efforts.
“The question of Finland and Sweden joining NATO is, if anything, less urgent today because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The war has eroded Russia’s conventional power and demonstrates its capability is not what was once feared.
“It is true each state has a capable military, including a useful navy. Their accession might be helpful in defending the Baltics, but capability is also a reason why these states don’t need NATO. The two states have collectively only about 45,000 active duty forces; too few to add much for alliance defense. Finland’s large reserve isn’t much use unless someone invades Finland.
“The case of making Finland a NATO member is especially troubled. Finland has long been a model of neutrality, which has worked rather well for it. Because it shares an 830-mile border with Russia, joining NATO might invite further antagonization from Moscow. If Finland does join, Europeans, not Americans, should commit troops to Finland’s border, as the U.S. does too much for European defense already and has less at stake in Scandinavia.
“Sympathetic feeling toward states is not a reason to threaten to kill large numbers of people on their behalf. The U.S. should maintain productive relations with Finland and Sweden, and it need not threaten war for them to serve our interests. They will be fine without becoming American protectorates.”
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