Russia's invasion of Ukraine has many consequences on regional balances: in addition to the direct importation of a high-intensity conflict on European soil, it also changes the northern neighborhood of Europe and the Atlantic Alliance. Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO in May 2022. The invitation was then renewed by the Heads of State and Government of the Alliance's member countries at the Madrid Summit last June. Since then, the process has been underway for ratification by member states: to date, all national parliaments have ratified it, with the exception of Turkey and Hungary. 

The integration of Sweden and Finland into NATO poses new challenges for the Alliance: the shift of its center of gravity to the north, the extension of the common border between the Alliance and Russia, etc. Moreover, Stockholm and Helsinki bring a different strategic culture and a particular appreciation of the security challenges in Northern Europe, especially in relation to the Baltic Sea, which must be discussed in order to better understand them. 

• Esa Pulkkinen, Permanent Secretary of the Finnish Ministry of Defense
• Peter Sandwall, State Secretary to the Swedish Minister of Defense