Russia has declared on Wednesday that it would enact unspecified military-technical and other countermeasures to safeguard itself against Sweden’s prospective NATO membership, characterizing the move as aggressive and erroneous, Reuters. Has reported.
The final barrier to Sweden’s NATO accession was overcome on Monday following Hungary’s parliamentary approval, marking a significant step for the traditionally neutral Nordic nation.
The decision by both Sweden and Finland to seek NATO membership followed Russia’s deployment of tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in 2022, sparking Europe’s most significant conflict since World War II, which continues to persist two years later.
Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated, “We will closely monitor Sweden’s actions within the aggressive military alliance and assess its practical implications..
Based on this assessment, we will formulate our response, including military-technical and other retaliatory measures.”
Zakharova criticized Sweden’s NATO accession as fueling anti-Russian sentiments and contributing to tensions and militarization. She emphasized that the choice was not solely made by the Swedish people but influenced by external factors.
The Russian Embassy in Stockholm also hinted at unspecified military and technical countermeasures via its Telegram account, contingent on the extent of NATO deployments within Sweden.
In response, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson brushed off Russia’s comments, indicating that Sweden remains undeterred by such rhetoric. He recalled similar reactions when Finland joined NATO, asserting that Sweden makes independent decisions and is prepared to address any response from Russia.
Kristersson affirmed Sweden’s readiness to handle the situation, stating, “We are well prepared, and we are vigilant about their actions.”
