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Finland and Sweden in NATO? (Eugenio Battaglia, Italy, 04/17/22 3:46 am)

Finland and Sweden may join NATO. Their small populations do not add significantly to the NATO total: 16 million people (5.5 for Finland and 10.5 for Sweden). However, their geopolitical importance is enormous.  Furthermore, the two states are very efficient and rather rich.

With their entrance, practically all Europe will be militarily united except proud Serbia. Austria is not officially within NATO but it does not matter.  Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina are occupied by NATO forces. Bosnia-Herzegovina could become a trouble spot due to the position of the local Serb leader Dodik.

From a nationalistic European point of view, such a military union would be the realization of the dream that in the last 200 years has survived among many Europeans. A military union is more important than the bureaucrats of Brussels. Of course, the realization of such a dream requires transforming NATO into an EO (European Organization), completely detaching Europe from the UK, Canada, and the US.

The last three countries would be better in an English-speaking Union with Australia and New Zealand. We may also discuss the relation of said English Organization (another EO) with South Korea and Japan.  Some development towards this goal is happening, especially with regards to Japan.

JE comments:  Belarus and Ukraine are in Europe too, and the European part of Russia is by far the largest of all.  And what about Switzerland?

Regardless, the entry of Finland and Sweden would be a major geopolitical shift, especially for Finland, which has a long border close to Russia's population centers (St Petersburg).  This outcome alone would be an absolute defeat for Putin's fear of encirclement--one of his justifications for launching the invasion of Ukraine.

Will Finland's entry give it more, or less, security next to its behemoth neighbor?  Strong arguments could be made for either view.

I'll close with a joyful Easter greeting for Eugenio Battaglia and all Christian WAISers.  This is a day of rebirth and reconciliation--if only the embattled world would take notice.  For the Orthodox faithful, Easter Sunday is a week from today--the 24th.  We'll be flying into Romania (from Poland) on that day.  This will be my first-ever experience in an Orthodox country on Easter Sunday.

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