Finland and Sweden to apply to NATO
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PATH TO MEMBERSHIP 2022

May 9-12, Sweden: Ruling Social Democrat party debates whether to reverse long-standing opposition to NATO membership

May 12, Finland: President Sauli Niinisto, followed by parliamentary groups, expected to announce approval for country to join NATO

May 13, Sweden: Results of parliament’s security policy review – including pros and cons of joining alliance – due

Jun 29-30: Finland and Sweden application could be submitted at NATO summit in Madrid
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Swedish and Finnish prime ministers, Magdalena Andersson (left) and Sanna Marin (right)
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NATO members

Gottland Island
Could make Sweden vulnerable should conflict erupt

SWEDEN
Stockholm
NORWAY
FINLAND
Helsinki
ESTONIA 
LATVIA 
LITHUANIA
BELARUS 
UKRAINE
Donbas
Crimea
ATLANTIC OCEAN
POLAND
DENMARK NED
UK GER ITA CZE SVK HUN BEL FRA ROM
Baltic Sea

RUSSIA
Moscow
Kola Peninsula
Home of Russian Northern Fleet is key to Moscow’s national security
St. Petersburg
Russia’s second- biggest city lies only 170 km from Finnish border

Suwalki Gap
Chokepoint should Russia attempt to cut off Baltic states

200km 125 miles


Kadetrinne
Strategic route to Baltic Sea

Kaliningrad: Russia warns it will deploy nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles in exclave if Finland and Sweden decide to join NATO

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Sources: Reuters, DW, NATO   Pictures: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS