[BostonCard]

Having Sweden and Finland means that NATO members control access to both the Black and Baltic seas.  There is no question that they bring more to the table than the average NATO member.  If you were picking a team, Sweden might be picked fourth after the US, UK, and France, and before Germany. Finland is a slightly less straightforward case, because of the long border with Russia, but they are less vulnerable than the Baltics, and having a noose 60 miles wide between Tallinn and Helsinki is a big deal.

Also, Sweden and Finland are going to be less troublemaking than, say, Hungary or Turkey.

BC

[BostonCard]

Having Sweden and Finland means that NATO members control access to both the Black and Baltic seas.  There is no question that they bring more to the table than the average NATO member.  If you were picking a team, Sweden might be picked fourth after the US, UK, and France, and before Germany. Finland is a slightly less straightforward case, because of the long border with Russia, but they are less vulnerable than the Baltics, and having a noose 60 miles wide between Tallinn and Helsinki is a big deal.

Also, Sweden and Finland are going to be less troublemaking than, say, Hungary or Turkey.

BC