The Nordic countries are considering joining the Alliance and are ready to apply in the summer of 2022.

Militarnyi informs about it.

Washington considers this step quite realistic. It is a direct consequence of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Ukrainian Pravda reports, citing The Times.

Therefore, NATO would be expanding from 30 to 32 members.

Russia has made a “massive strategic blunder” as, according to US officials, Finland and Sweden are looking poised to join NATO as early as this summer.

US officials claim that NATO membership for both Nordic countries was “a topic of conversation and multiple sessions” during the discussions between the Alliance’s Foreign Ministers last week, in which Sweden and Finland have also participated.

“How can this be anything but a massive strategic blunder for Putin?,” one senior American official said.

Finland’s application is expected to come in June, with Sweden expected to follow.

The countries are working jointly to reach a common consensus, but the final decision will be made independently.

Previously, NATO reported planning to deploy a permanent military presence on its eastern borders. It is also noted that Putin’s actions provoked a “fundamental transformation” of the military alliance, which will demonstrate the long-term consequences of the war in Ukraine.

The Times also emphasizes that the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO will lead to the redeployment of Russian troops on Russia’s northwestern flank. This will further “stretch” Putin’s army, which is already suffering losses from the Ukrainian resistance.

European diplomats emphasize that both countries would be significantly expanding NATO’s capacity, especially in terms of intelligence and Air Force powers.

It was previously reported that Lithuania is ready to deploy training centers for the Ukrainian military, where they will be trained to master modern NATO-style weapons.