# Finland and Sweden appear poised for entry to NATO {2022-05-12} **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** ukraine-invasion, breaking-news\ **Created:** [May 13, 2022, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350 "2022-05-13T03:38:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2022, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/1 "2022-05-13T03:38:46Z")
And who could blame them?! Finland has quite a long border with Russia, [some 1300 km](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finland%E2%80%93Russia_border). This video gives the perspectives of some diplomat types. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ID6XQgQZaqM/maxresdefault.jpg "Finland to apply for Nato membership after Russia's invasion of Ukraine - BBC News") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID6XQgQZaqM) ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2022, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/2 "2022-05-13T05:17:26Z")
Putin: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/GwQW3KW3DCc/hqdefault.jpg "Arrested Development - I've Made a Huge Mistake Compilation") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwQW3KW3DCc) Stranger ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2022, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/3 "2022-05-13T15:51:43Z")
It will of course offend Putin. Russian has a history of grabbing parts of Finland. I wonder if part of the Russian beef is fear that NATO will demand those areas be returned. ---
**Author:** ![SoToasty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sotoasty/32/2803_2.png) [@SoToasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoToasty)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2022, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/4 "2022-05-13T16:11:28Z")
Turkey’s president may be a poison pill. [Turkey’s leader opposes letting Finland, Sweden join NATO (msn.com)](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/turkey-s-leader-opposes-letting-finland-sweden-join-nato/ar-AAXejQu?ocid=msedgntphdr&cvid=3438c85557a2402f90dc8fd5935a6c19) ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2022, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/5 "2022-05-13T23:08:47Z")
Perhaps. But other members may recently have come to see things in a different light. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2022, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/6 "2022-05-13T23:10:50Z")
> [@SoToasty](#): > > Turkey’s leader opposes letting Finland, Sweden join NATO ([msn.com](http://msn.com)) Fuck that guy. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2022, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/7 "2022-05-13T23:25:26Z")
> [@SoToasty](#): > > Turkey’s president may be a poison pill. > > [Turkey’s leader opposes letting Finland, Sweden join NATO (msn.com)](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/turkey-s-leader-opposes-letting-finland-sweden-join-nato/ar-AAXejQu?ocid=msedgntphdr&cvid=3438c85557a2402f90dc8fd5935a6c19) How much say in the matter would he even have, really? If NATO decided to not allow one country to override 30 others, not a lot he could do about it. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2022, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/8 "2022-05-13T23:29:15Z")
I’m hoping for rage, fury so strong it makes Putin’s teeth click and clatter, high blood pressure of 150/80, foaming at the mouth, impotent demands for unspecified “consequences,” followed by Finns laughing and Swedes sending more IKEA meatballs to Ukrainian troops. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2022, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/9 "2022-05-13T23:49:48Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > …and Swedes sending more IKEA meatballs to Ukrainian troops. Why would you do that to them? They Ukrainians are good guys, and _kruchenyky_ and _pyrizhky_ are way more appealing than anything in the IKEA restaurant. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![SoToasty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sotoasty/32/2803_2.png) [@SoToasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoToasty)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/10 "2022-05-14T00:30:50Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > > [@SoToasty](#): > > > > Turkey’s president may be a poison pill. > > > > > [Turkey’s leader opposes letting Finland, Sweden join NATO (msn.com)](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/turkey-s-leader-opposes-letting-finland-sweden-join-nato/ar-AAXejQu?ocid=msedgntphdr&cvid=3438c85557a2402f90dc8fd5935a6c19) > > How much say in the matter would he even have, really? If NATO decided to not allow one country to override 30 others, not a lot he could do about it. From the article… - > However, NATO makes all its decisions by consensus, meaning that each of the 30 member countries has a potential veto over who can join. - ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/11 "2022-05-14T00:33:42Z")
Is that their actual requirement, or simply custom? I could see a supermajority deciding it might be time to update some procedures in light of the level of irrational aggression coming out of Russia. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/12 "2022-05-14T00:37:17Z")
What if we just let Putin have Turkey? Or at least Erdogan and all his supporters. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/13 "2022-05-14T00:43:58Z")
Seems very unlikely to me that Turkey would actually block them. Maybe they’ll try and get some advantage, a trade deal or something, but I doubt Erdogan is willing to obliterate his relationships with the rest of NATO countries for such a bullshit reason. ---
**Author:** ![SoToasty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sotoasty/32/2803_2.png) [@SoToasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoToasty)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/14 "2022-05-14T00:45:27Z")
Looks like it is true. [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.nato.int/nato\_static\_fl2014/assets/pdf/pdf\_2016\_07/20160627\_1607-factsheet-enlargement-eng.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjm4r-V4N33AhX9j2oFHZQBCNMQFnoECAYQBg&usg=AOvVaw0PKgG\_bqvQ3B0V5hzSYTcj](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/pdf_2016_07/20160627_1607-factsheet-enlargement-eng.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjm4r-V4N33AhX9j2oFHZQBCNMQFnoECAYQBg&usg=AOvVaw0PKgG_bqvQ3B0V5hzSYTcj) The link says, expansion must be unanimous. And i agree with the fuck that guy sentiment ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/15 "2022-05-14T01:57:27Z")
It takes months to join NATO at a minimum. If it truly needs to be unanimous than some horse trading may be required. What are the IKEA meatballs composed of? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/16 "2022-05-14T02:09:51Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > What are the IKEA meatballs composed of? Sawdust and ketchup. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/17 "2022-05-14T02:39:51Z")
Keep the authoritarian, or let in two democracies and say “Bye-bye!” Decisions, decisions. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/18 "2022-05-14T02:49:37Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Keep the authoritarian The “authoritarian”, or at least his nation, has been useful. The Black Sea fleet can’t reinforce because Turkey has closed the straits to foreign ships. And Ukraine has been making some serious hay with Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones. Jerkwad he might be, but he has his role in this. His obstructionism is terribly disappointing but the country is a vital partner in this. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/19 "2022-05-14T02:51:17Z")
The dictator controls the Bosporus and Dardanelles, unfortunately. From a realpolitik perspective it would be smart to appease him if possible. Although I will concur with the general sentiment of fuck Recep Tayyip Erdogan. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2022, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350/20 "2022-05-14T03:29:27Z")
Methinks a back room deal can be made. Spoke with one of my Finnish colleagues today. He simply commented on how fast sentiment in Finland has flipped. He also made the comment that from a Finnish point of view, Putin sent in the raw shock “volunteer” troops to Ukraine. That there are 250+ MIGs on the Finnish border, and the bulk of the professional army has been held back from the cluster. Far different than the Shock and Awe tactics of America. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finland-and-sweden-appear-poised-for-entry-to-nato-2022-05-12/964350.md?page=2)