a few seconds agoMillie: Finland's NATO membership would make Russia's Baltic Sea position difficult
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)The membership of Finland and Sweden in NATO would put Russia in a difficult military position in the Baltic Sea, top US General Mark Milley said on Saturday during a visit to Stockholm on the eve of military training. Two Nordic neighbours, which have long border lines on the Baltic Sea, applied the month [...]
The two Nordic neighbours, which have long border lines at the Baltic Sea, applied last month to join the military alliance amid security concerns after Russia began aggression against Ukraine in February, though facing Turkey's opposition.
Their membership would mean that the coastline of the Russian cities of Kaliningrad and St Petersburg in the Baltic Sea is surrounded by NATO members.
From the Russian perspective, this would be very problematic for them, in the military way, and it would be very useful for them. NATO,”, said Chief Chiefs of General Staff Mark Milley.
“Balticus is very important strategically, it's one of the world's largest sea routes,” General Milley added.
He was speaking at a joint press conference with his Swedish counterpart, Swedish Prime Minister and Swedish Defence Minister prior to NATO's annual training in the Baltic Sea, attended by Sweden and Finland.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month there was no threat to Russia if Sweden and Finland joined NATO, though he warned Moscow would respond if the US-led coalition strengthens the military infrastructure of new Nordic members.
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson described General Milley's visit as a concrete demonstration of the guarantees President Joe Biden gave her and Finnish President Saul Niinsto when they were in Washington in May.
This is a strong signal to the world. And it also shows that the security guarantees President Biden spoke very openly of in the White House are followed by concrete actions,” she said. /voa
