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1 1 (February 14, 2023)

handle is hein.crs/govekpj0001 and id is 1 raw text is: bb Congressional ____ '.Research Service NATO: Finland and Sweden Seek Membership Updated February 14, 2023 On June 29, 2022, heads of state and government from NATO's 30 member states (see Figure 1) unanimously agreed to invite Finland and Sweden to join the alliance. Finland and Sweden formally applied for membership on May 18, 2022, prompted by heightened security concerns about Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Finland's and Sweden's applications marked a historic shift for these traditionally militarily nonaligned countries. The Biden Administration and many Members of Congress support Finland and Sweden joining NATO, arguing that the addition of these two mature democracies with advanced militaries will enhance security in the Baltic Sea region and the broader Euro-Atlantic area. In August 2022, the Senate approved a resolution supporting NATO accession for both countries, and President Biden signed protocols formalizing U.S. approval. As of February 13, 2023, all but two NATO members-Hungary and Turkey-had ratified amendments to NATO's founding North Atlantic Treaty to allow Finland and Sweden to join the alliance. Finland's and Sweden's NATO Aspirations Russia's war against Ukraine has upended decades of Finnish and Swedish security policy that sought to balance political, economic, and cultural ties to the West and relations with Russia. After the Cold War, Finland and Sweden joined the European Union (EU) and established close partnerships with NATO. Both Finland and Sweden have participated in numerous NATO operations and have technologically advanced militaries that are interoperable with NATO. Public support for NATO accession-and the added security of NATO's Article 5 mutual defense clause-has skyrocketed in both countries since Russia's invasion of Ukraine; local polls indicate support at 76% in Finland and 59% in Sweden. U.S. officials from the Departments of State and Defense concur with Finnish and Swedish assertions that the two countries would be security providers, strengthening NATO's defense posture in the Baltic region in particular. Finland is expected to exceed NATO's 2% GDP defense spending target in 2022, and Sweden intends to meet the 2% goal by 2026. Some analysts have expressed concern that Finland's and Sweden's accession could provoke Russia and question NATO's ability to defend Finland's 830-mile border with Russia (which would double NATO's overall borders with Russia). Finnish officials contend that Finland has long defended its own borders and would continue to do so as a NATO member. Finland and Sweden also have strong traditions of societal Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN11949 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress

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