Finland & Sweden Join NATO

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Seems that both Sweden and Finland take civil defense seriously. You can read their recent crisis guide here:


and here:

 

Finland Crafting Whole-of-Government Defense Posture​

December 4, 2024 4:16 PM

From its military draft and 300,000-member reserve force to building bomb shelters in its cities to protect civilians, Finland maintains a whole-of-government approach to defense, the former foreign minister who helped negotiate Helsinki’s entrance into NATO said Wednesday.

“We need to protect ourselves,” Pekka Haavisto, who served as the foreign minister from 2019 to 2023 and as a member of parliament, said at a Wilson Center event. He pointed to Finland spending 2.4 percent of its gross domestic product on defense. That percentage needs to increase as security threats in Europe and the Arctic change. “That’s our message [along with France] to other European countries” in the alliance and European Union.

In April, French President Emanuel Macron proposed a European defense initiative to defend the continent with its own nations’ defense capabilities through a “common security framework.”

More:

 
Two posts from NATO regions. The first one is a podcast, can listen in one tab, play around the forum in a different tab. Second one is a written article.

Preparing for crisis along Norway's border to Russia​

Feb 11, 2025

Norway is experiencing a more dangerous and unpredictable world situation," the country's new white paper on civil preparedness warns. We talked with Terje Meyer, head of the Norwegian Civil Defence in Eastern Finnmark, about preparedness and civil resilience in the border region.


22:18

 
 
I think NATO news will be heating up soon. Take this fwiw and dyodd.

 

Sweden’s 🇸🇪 impact on NATO​

Mar 7, 2025 SWEDEN

In March 2024, Sweden ended over 200 years of neutrality when it joined the NATO alliance, a decision driven by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the growing security threats in Europe.

As the nation with the longest Baltic Sea coastline and strategic proximity to the Arctic, Sweden’s geography alone makes it a key contributor to Euro-Atlantic security. But its contributions go beyond location. With a highly advanced military, a strong defence industry and a history of cooperation with NATO forces, Sweden brings valuable knowledge, innovation and experience to the Alliance. So, how exactly does this Nordic nation of 10.5 million people add to NATO’s strength?


12:42
 

How NATO’s Most Strategic Island Trains for War With Russia | WSJ​

Mar 3, 2025
Sweden has undergone a seismic shift in military strategy after decades of demilitarization in order to prepare to repel Russian invaders. As a shadow war heats up in the Baltic Sea over critical subsea cables, NATO’s newest member is on the front lines with a strategic island called Gotland. Troops here are training in drills to repel invaders, readying civilian bomb shelters built during the Cold War and more.

WSJ’s Sune Engel Rasmussen visits Gotland to understand why it’s undergoing a radical transformation and how the new defenses are dividing opinion among locals.


7:24

Chapters:
0:00 Visiting Gotland
0:55 Training exercises
2:35 Construction on the island
3:04 The mayor of Gotland
4:26 Impact on the local town
5:34 Subsea cables in the Baltic Sea
Watch the full, wide-ranging interview with Sweden’s Chief of Defense, Gen. Michael Claesson here: https://on.wsj.com/43ht8Kl
 

Sweden’s 🇸🇪 impact on NATO​

Mar 7, 2025 SWEDEN

In March 2024, Sweden ended over 200 years of neutrality when it joined the NATO alliance, a decision driven by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the growing security threats in Europe.

As the nation with the longest Baltic Sea coastline and strategic proximity to the Arctic, Sweden’s geography alone makes it a key contributor to Euro-Atlantic security. But its contributions go beyond location. With a highly advanced military, a strong defence industry and a history of cooperation with NATO forces, Sweden brings valuable knowledge, innovation and experience to the Alliance. So, how exactly does this Nordic nation of 10.5 million people add to NATO’s strength?


12:42


Ferfal's take on the video.


15:28
 

Russian attempt at smuggling nuclear plans sparks investigation in NATO country​

Finland's customs officials are on high alert after uncovering an alleged attempt by Russia, who has been accused of a major worldwide sabotage campaign, to smuggle out sensitive documents, breaching EU sanctions, coming after Western leaders met to devise a way to apply even more "pressure" on Vladimir Putin. The haul included nearly 30 boxes of documents linked to nuclear power plant construction, intercepted en route to Russia.

More:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/worl...S&cvid=0e696c7ade0240c4909caef920ae6cd0&ei=14
 

Inside the Most Prepared Country on Earth​

Apr 30, 2025
Why Finland is Preparing for war with Russia

I traveled to Finland to train for arctic warfare and to learn what compelled the Finns to join NATO after decades of neutrality. I also visited the Finland-Russian border to understand how Finland’s relationship with its long-time neighbor and former occupier has changed.
Additional supplemental footage was provided by the Finnish Defense Forces: / @puolustusvoimat


52:30

Check out all my sources for this video here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N...

-- VIDEO CHAPTERS --
0:00 Intro
2:28 Arriving on Base
5:17 Arctic Forge
7:28 Arctic Survival Training
10:43 The Battle Begins
22:30 History
26:16 Impact of History
28:51 Back on the Battlefield
31:55 History II Cold War
34:43 From Neutral to NATO
38:11 The Border
43:15 The Bunkers
49:38 Conclusion

Special thanks to:
  • Finnish Defence Forces: Guard Jaeger Regiment
  • Embassy of Finland in Washington D.C.
  • CPT Felix Saranen & CPT Jarmo Salmi
  • Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen
  • Deputy Director General of Foreign Affairs Mikael Antell
  • Maria Hietajärvi & Ari Vallin
  • & everyone in Finland who shared their perspectives with us
Map Data from:
  • MAP DATA - Natural Earth
  • NASA
  • National Snow and Ice Data Center
  • CShapes
 

NATO country sounds alarm as Russia ramps up military power on NATO border​

Global tensions are escalating, and now a NATO country has sounded the alarm that Russia could be preparing for another invasion.

Latvia is currently observing a significant buildup of Russian military power and surveillance operations in the Baltic Sea, threatening its neighbours in the region.

The former Societ state's intelligence operation alleges that president Vladimir Putin is is enhancing its military and expanding surveillance activities near the border between the two countries, reports the Express.

Putin is entering the fourth year of his attempted invassion of Ukraine, with the chances of a peace deal or ceasefire fluctuating almost daily.

More:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/worl...r-on-nato-border/ar-AA1EGXKw?ocid=socialshare
 
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