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1 1 (March 22, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/goveota0001 and id is 1 raw text is: S Congressional ____ 'aResearch Service NATO Enlargement to Sweden and Finland Updated March 22, 2024 Sweden joined NATO on March 7, 2024, enlarging the alliance to 32 members (see Figure 1). Amid heightened security concerns about Russia after its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, both Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO in May 2022 with the intention to accede to the alliance together. Finland joined on April 4, 2023, but Sweden's accession was delayed by issues raised by Turkey (Turkiye) and Hungary. The Biden Administration and majorities in the House and Senate expressed support for NATO enlargement to both Finland and Sweden, viewing the addition of these two mature democracies with capable militaries as enhancing Euro-Atlantic security and advancing U.S. interests. Finland and Sweden Apply for NATO Membership Finland's and Sweden's applications to NATO marked a historic shift for these traditionally militarily nonaligned countries that for decades 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 over the years, and the two countries have advanced militaries that are interoperable with NATO. Public support for NATO membership-and the added security of NATO's Article 5 mutual defense clause-skyrocketed in both countries following Russia's invasion of Ukraine; polls indicate support at 82% in Finland (as of November 2023) and 60% in Sweden (as of March 2024). U.S. officials from the Departments of State and Defense concurred with Finnish and Swedish assertions that the two countries would strengthen NATO's defense posture, especially in the Baltic Sea region. Finland spends nearly 2.5% of its GDP on defense (above NATO's 2% spending guideline). Sweden intends to meet NATO's 2% defense spending goal in 2024. Some analysts expressed concern about NATO's ability to defend Finland's 830-mile border with Russia (which doubles NATO's overall borders with Russia). Finnish officials contend that Finland has long defended its own borders and will continue to do so as a NATO member. Finland and Sweden also have strong traditions of societal resilience and experience dealing with Russian disinformation efforts, cyberattacks, and hybrid threats. Russia has largely sought to downplay concerns about Finnish and Swedish accession to NATO, but Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned NATO against deploying troops or expanding military infrastructure in either country. In the period before Finland's and Sweden's accession, the United States and NATO enhanced defense cooperation and conducted more joint training exercises with Finland and Sweden, in part to provide security reassurances to both countries. Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN11949 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress

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