Finland and Sweden have formally submitted their applications to join NATO, marking a “historic moment”.

The two countries’ bid on joining the military alliance is driven by security concerns caused by the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. After their application submissions, they will now be considered by the 30 member countries of the military alliance, with the process expected to take a few weeks.

Meanwhile, Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressed reservations about Finland and Sweden joining the alliance. But Ankara (Turkey’s capital) said it will not stand in their way. Announcing the move after receiving their application letters, NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, announced that “This is a historic moment, which we must seize”.

“I warmly welcome the requests by Finland and Sweden to join NATO. You are our closest partners and your membership in NATO will increase our shared security.”
NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg

How Long it Takes to be a NATO Member

Ideally, the entire NATO membership process usually takes around eight to 12 months (approximately a year), but given the threat from Russia, the two Nordic countries could become members within a couple of months if their applications are approved swiftly.

Finland, since the Second World War, maintained a policy of neutrality regarding Russia, with which it shares an 833-mile (1,340km) border. Its neighbour, Sweden, which shares a maritime border with Russia, also traditionally kept a neutral stance. As such, the two countries for decades resolved that joining NATO would represent an unnecessary provocation of Moscow.

But public opinion in both countries shifted massively in favour of a NATO membership following Russia’s invasion on Ukraine, which started on Thursday, February 24, 2022. Should Sweden and Finland become members of the military alliance, it would mean that NATO forces could be right next to the Finnish-Russian 833-mile (1,340km) border, which will in turn extend the NATO-Russia borderlines along the North-West of Russia.

Staying the Course to Join NATO

Applications of both countries (Sweden and Finland) will first be examined in a sitting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC), made up of its 30 member countries, likely at the ambassadorial level.

Seeking to move the membership process along, Sweden’s Defence Minister has already gone to Washington and will be followed by Swedish Prime Minister, Magdalena Andersson, and Finnish President, Sauli Niinisto, later this week.

In an act to remain focused on the new direction, both nations have brushed off warnings from Russia that joining NATO would trigger “serious military and political consequences”. Russian President, Vladimir Putin, disclosed that he has no issue with Finland and Sweden joining NATO, but while speaking on Monday, May 16, 2022, said the “expansion of military infrastructure” would “provoke our response”.

NATO and the CSTO

On Monday, May 16, 2022, Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko, urged the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) to unite following Finland and Sweden’s NATO bids.

The CSTO was formed in 1992 with Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan signing the first treaty. In 1993, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Georgia joined. Later in 1994, the treaty came into force. Currently, it is made up of six member countries: Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Similar to Article 5 of the NATO pact, Article 4 of the CSTO states that aggression against one state party is seen as aggression against all members. As a result, participating states can support the aggressed state with provisions such as military aid.