Russia Warns of Baltic Military Buildup if Sweden and Finland Join NATO

Dmitry Medvedev Mentions Strengthening Russia's Defense Measures Including Nuclear Deployment

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Russia warned on the 14th (local time) that it may deploy nuclear weapons in the Baltic Sea if Sweden and Finland join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

According to TASS News Agency and others, Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, wrote on his Telegram account that if Sweden and Finland join NATO, Russia will strengthen its defense measures, including deploying nuclear weapons in the Baltic Sea.

He also reportedly said that with the two countries joining NATO, Russia would officially have more hostile countries and would need to deploy significant naval forces in the Gulf of Finland to maintain military balance.

Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave, exists on the Baltic Sea coast between Poland and Lithuania.

Although Sweden and Finland are members of the European Union (EU), they have maintained a neutral stance under a policy of military non-alignment and have not joined NATO until now. However, public opinion has shifted following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and they are now discussing NATO membership.