[Goose]

Question…why is it so important to us to admit Sweden and Finland to Nato? I understand why they want it (US military umbrella) but will it really strengthen Nato in some significant way? I admit Im affected because I think they likely had plenty of opportunities in the past to join Nato and seems like they want to buy health/life insurance now that there is a pandemic raging around them (probably a poor analogy). Im not against it but Im also not looking for less important reasons to goad Putin right now. Im ok goading him to supply/support Ukraine, but not sure where I come out on this one. Seems like it might be better as a bargaining chip (although maybe we’ve tried and failed on that).

My gut says the US would go to the mat for Finland and Sweden if they were attacked by Russia anyway, so may as well admit them to NATO, which gives the US the guaranteed support of some other countries who otherwise wouldn't lift a finger and which gives all of NATO a great spot for a miliary base that might deter further Russian aggression.

I frankly don't know if the US would go to the mat for Finland or Sweden. We are not going to the mat for Ukraine. We are very much in their corner, but we won't send troops. Sweden and Finland see this, and they want the Article 5 guarantees, such as they are. They want to be part of the NATO territory that our president says we will protect every inch of. Pretty understandable I think.

Whether it makes NATO stronger or weaker is for better or worse beside the point. We and lots of other nations have been trying to get Finland and Sweden to sign up for quite a while. If NATO accepted North Macedonia, how can it not accept Sweden and Finland? Politically, going back on our offer(s) would be a disaster.

As far as a US military permanent presence in either Finland or Sweden, I give it zero probability. Many NATO countries will not allow this, and I am pretty sure Sweden would be one such country. Finland probably as well, but I am not as sure. This is not to say that there won't be US aircraft, ships, and troops in these countries on exercises, as they are in Norway. The US has some equipment prepositioned in Norway, but no bases. That is actually a good thing. The Norwegians fight well and are so effectively integrated with NATO there is no difference between their forces and our forces. These Nordic countries are/will be a force multiplier. Some other NATO countries are not.

[Goose]

Question…why is it so important to us to admit Sweden and Finland to Nato? I understand why they want it (US military umbrella) but will it really strengthen Nato in some significant way? I admit Im affected because I think they likely had plenty of opportunities in the past to join Nato and seems like they want to buy health/life insurance now that there is a pandemic raging around them (probably a poor analogy). Im not against it but Im also not looking for less important reasons to goad Putin right now. Im ok goading him to supply/support Ukraine, but not sure where I come out on this one. Seems like it might be better as a bargaining chip (although maybe we’ve tried and failed on that).

My gut says the US would go to the mat for Finland and Sweden if they were attacked by Russia anyway, so may as well admit them to NATO, which gives the US the guaranteed support of some other countries who otherwise wouldn't lift a finger and which gives all of NATO a great spot for a miliary base that might deter further Russian aggression.

I frankly don't know if the US would go to the mat for Finland or Sweden. We are not going to the mat for Ukraine. We are very much in their corner, but we won't send troops. Sweden and Finland see this, and they want the Article 5 guarantees, such as they are. They want to be part of the NATO territory that our president says we will protect every inch of. Pretty understandable I think.

Whether it makes NATO stronger or weaker is for better or worse beside the point. We and lots of other nations have been trying to get Finland and Sweden to sign up for quite a while. If NATO accepted North Macedonia, how can it not accept Sweden and Finland? Politically, going back on our offer(s) would be a disaster.

As far as a US military permanent presence in either Finland or Sweden, I give it zero probability. Many NATO countries will not allow this, and I am pretty sure Sweden would be one such country. Finland probably as well, but I am not as sure. This is not to say that there won't be US aircraft, ships, and troops in these countries on exercises, as they are in Norway. The US has some equipment prepositioned in Norway, but no bases. That is actually a good thing. The Norwegians fight well and are so effectively integrated with NATO there is no difference between their forces and our forces. These Nordic countries are/will be a force multiplier. Some other NATO countries are not.