DISINFO: Sweden, Finland join NATO which wants to destroy Russia; it can lead to their destruction
SUMMARY
Sweden and Finland join NATO which wants to destroy Russia. Russia wants to destroy them in response. Deployment of NATO troops in Finland and Sweden will make them a possible target of the Russian military. The US may unleash a third world war with the use of nuclear arms.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets about Finland and Sweden’s membership application of NATO.
In reality, NATO does not aim to destroy Russia. NATO is a defensive alliance, whose primary aims are to maintain peace and safeguard the independence, security and territorial integrity of its member states. Every country that joins NATO undertakes to uphold its principles and policies, which include the commitment that "NATO does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia”, as reaffirmed at the June 2021 Brussels Summit.
Finland and Sweden’s membership application to join NATO is not directed against Russia. These countries rather want to protect themselves as Russia continues its war of aggression against Ukraine. It became a necessity because Russia has violated the European security architecture and invaded neighbouring Ukraine and before that, in 2008, Georgia. In addition, recent Russian provocations demonstrate ill-intent. A Russian Mi-17 helicopter reportedly violated Finnish airspace in May. In April, Finnish authorities accused a Russian IL-96-300 of violating the country’s airspace in the Gulf of Finland.
Finland's President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in May that the country should apply to join NATO “without delay.” Sweden’s governing Social Democratic Party also said it backed joining NATO.
Read more disinformation cases about Finland and Sweden’s future membership of NATO and claims that NATO is posing a threat to Russia.