Current Events > Sweden and Finland agree to apply for NATO membership at the same time.

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://theweek.com/nato/1012948/reports-sweden-and-finland-agree-to-apply-for-nato-membership-at-the-same-time

Looks like Russia's nuclear threats were just a bunch of hot air to them.

Looks like Turkey bombing Kurds is also just a bunch of hot air to them, as well as the various US war crimes and US sponsored war crimes.

Sweden and Finland will get their Badass cards in the mail.

And Russia threatens to nuclear annihilate hundred of millions more people, crazy ass mother fuckers

And Russia should stfu, the USA is coming for your ass

Russia: >:-(

Russia has proved itself to be a joke with recent events, so it's not surprising.

I said this in another topic long ago, but I'll say it again: The only reason the Baltic states are still independent is because of NATO.
Also, now to add, Russia has never invaded a NATO country, but they sure are invading neutral Ukraine and are planning on extending the same favor to neutral Moldova, and guess what, Russia wants Finland and Sweden to stay neutral. Gee, I wonder why.

Whether or not Sweden joined NATO, if Russia aggressed, the anglosphere would take military action, no matter what your semantic beliefs are about Ukraine, Sweden is actually European and it would be an actual problem.

Thompson posted...

I said this in another topic long ago, but I'll say it again: The only reason the Baltic states are still independent is because of NATO.
Also, now to add, Russia has never invaded a NATO country, but they sure are invading neutral Ukraine and are planning on extending the same favor to neutral Moldova, and guess what, Russia wants Finland and Sweden to stay neutral. Gee, I wonder why.

Yeah. I think it makes sense for states who were subjects of Russian imperialism to view NATO membership as an anti-imperialist measure. I don't think that makes sense from a Swedish perspective. Understandably the Finnish perspective is different.

Russia: "Hurr but if we behave like assholes to everyone and threaten to annihilate them, surely they will respect us more, right?"

Russia: 'Join NATO and we'll probably threaten to invade you!'
Also Russia: 'Stay neutral and we'll definitely actually invade you!'

Really tough call there.

Russia: -Attacks countries unprovoked-
Also Russia: Joining an organization meant to protect you from our unprovoked attacks is an act of provocation.

meanwhile, Putin is like "BLYATTT!!!!"

That leaves Ireland as the sole Northern European country not in NATO.

Russian news television has gotten so ridiculous, it's common to see anchors directly contradict themselves during the same live broadcast.

Bat178 posted...

That leaves Ireland as the sole Northern European country not in NATO.

That's not a definition of Northern Europe that I'm familiar with

What if Finland gets in but Sweden doesn't? Next Nordic Council meeting will be so awkward.

scar the 1 posted...

That's not a definition of Northern Europe that I'm familiar with

The UN considers Northern Europe as the British Isles, the Nordic countries and the Baltics. Of course, if you don't count the British Isles as Northern European, then literally all of Northern Europe is going to be in NATO now.

Very_Unreliable posted...

Whether or not Sweden joined NATO, if Russia aggressed, the anglosphere would take military action, no matter what your semantic beliefs are about Ukraine, Sweden is actually European and it would be an actual problem.

They absolutely would. Sweden is in the EU. Which means the mutual defense clause contained in the EU by-laws would trigger.

scar the 1 posted...

Yeah. I think it makes sense for states who were subjects of Russian imperialism to view NATO membership as an anti-imperialist measure. I don't think that makes sense from a Swedish perspective. Understandably the Finnish perspective is different.

Dude be better lol

75% of the MPs in Rikdagen (Swedens legislative body) need to vote yes though and were not quite there yet. Joining NATO require a Constitutional amendment. 75% will probably soon be on board though.

The Conservatives, Christian Democrats, Neoliberals and Liberals are yes. They have a combined total of 143 MPs.

The Socialdemocrats with their 100 MPs will soon change from no to yes unless something spectacular happen.

That would still just be 243 MPs however and 75% = 262.

So the Nationalist party (62 MPs) will also have to change from no to yes. That is an ongoing internal party process though.

The Far-Left (28 MPs) and the Green party (16 MPs) will not change to yes.

I like how Russia simultaneously says the conflict in Ukraine isn't a war, but that everyone assisting Ukraine is fighting a proxy war.

DarkRoast posted...

Russia: -Attacks countries unprovoked-
Also Russia: Joining an organization meant to protect you from our unprovoked attacks is an act of provocation.

it's perfectly reasonable for Russia to view NATO expansion into the area as a provocation

Bat178 posted...

That leaves Ireland as the sole Northern European country not in NATO.

Stay strong Ireland.

averagejoel posted...

it's perfectly reasonable for Russia to view NATO expansion into the area as a provocation

It's not a provocation when they're attacking shit unprovoked

averagejoel posted...

it's perfectly reasonable for Russia to view NATO expansion into the area as a provocation

150 rubles have been deposited into your account.

Thompson posted...

150 rubles have been depsited into your account.

That's what, like 12 cents?

DarkRoast posted...

It's not a provocation when they're attacking shit unprovoked

it wasn't unprovoked though

averagejoel posted...

it wasn't unprovoked though

Close your account before Boris steals your electricity again

Why do tankies feel the need to defend Russia? Russia is not the soviet union

I think the question of whether or not the invasion was unprovoked or not is a poor one because ultimately it is a matter of fake nuance like seen above. What really matters is why joelnotnumbers thinks a specific former-communist country he is definitely not in love with has a right to determine the future of other countries that are not them.

CrimsonAngel posted...

Why do tankies feel the need to defend Russia? Russia is not the soviet union

It's simple.

Fox News -> Roger Stone -> Steve Bannon -> Gateway Pundit / Epoch Times -> Russian/Chinese propaganda

The right-wing blogs that produce these idiotic arguments are either literally owned and operated by the Russian government, or associated in some way. And the far-right is too arrogant (and stupid) to acknowledge it.

DarkRoast posted...

Close your account before Boris steals your electricity again

what the hell are you talking about

NATO was created as an anti-USSR measure. since the dissolution of the USSR, NATO has operated, first and foremost, in the interests of the US. Ukraine is very close, geographically, to Russia.

given this information, is it reasonable for Russia to view NATO expansion in the area as a threat?

CrimsonAngel posted...

Why do tankies feel the need to defend Russia? Russia is not the soviet union

are you talking about me? because pointing out that this wasn't unprovoked is not the same as defending Russia

NATO does not grant membership to countries with territorial disputes.

DeadBankerDream posted...

I think the question of whether or not the invasion was unprovoked or not is a poor one because ultimately it is a matter of fake nuance like seen above. What really matters is why joelnotnumbers thinks a specific former-communist country he is definitely not in love with has a right to determine the future of other countries that are not them.

not sure how you got the idea that I was "in love with" russia. also not sure how you got the idea that I think russia "has a right to determine the future of other countries"

in either case, both of those assumptions are false and you should probably stop making them

Doom_Art posted...

Dude be better lol

?

averagejoel posted...

what the hell are you talking about

NATO was created as an anti-USSR measure. since the dissolution of the USSR, NATO has operated, first and foremost, in the interests of the US. Ukraine is very close, geographically, to Russia.

given this information, is it reasonable for Russia to view NATO expansion in the area as a threat?

NATO is only a threat to Russia if Russia is a threat to nations around it

DarkRoast posted...

NATO is only a threat to Russia if Russia is a threat to nations around it

yes or no

Hey guys what's going on with the US threats of military force against China regarding the Solomon islands?

You desperately need self-awareness

DarkRoast posted...

You desperately need self-awareness @averagejoel

You're essentially making the same argument as "terrorists wouldn't attack others if counter-terrorism wasn't a threat to them"

NATO exists because Russia was, and still is, an unreasonably aggressive neighbor.

And protip: if you don't want countries joining an organization designed to protect countries against your aggression, maybe don't threaten them with nukes.

based on this post and the If statement in your previous post, you agree that it is reasonable for Russia to view NATO as a threat

averagejoel posted...

based on this post and the If statement in your previous post, you agree that it is reasonable for Russia to view NATO as a threat

It's a threat in the same way a speed bump is a threat to a guy in a Bugatti

Time for averagejoel to get a time out for 30 days

scar the 1 posted...

Looks like Turkey bombing Kurds is also just a bunch of hot air to them, as well as the various US war crimes and US sponsored war crimes.

This. The US didnt face any punishment for that drone strike that killed an innocent man last year. They tried to lie and said he was a part of ISIS or something but the New York Times outed their lie.

BlueTigerLion posted...

So why didnt the US face any punishment for that drone strike that killed an innocent Man last year. They tried to lie and said he was a part of ISIS or something but the New York Times outed their lie.

Hey look it's Whataboutism Aleksiev

Because killing one person in a drone strike mishap is equivocal to filling up a fucking mass grave of civilians while shipping their orphans to Moscow.

averagejoel posted...

based on this post and the If statement in your previous post, you agree that it is reasonable for Russia to view NATO as a threat

NATO is a defensive pact, the only way Russia can view it as a threat is if theyre planning on attacking the countries that want to join it. Which is exactly the reason those countries want to join now.

DarkRoast posted...

It's a threat in the same way a speed bump is a threat to a guy in a Bugatti

whether or not it's actually a threat, it's pretty clear that Russia views it as one. and given that NATO operates primarily in the interests of the US, that is a reasonable position to hold

People unironically defending Russia and trying to pull some weak ass Whataboutism regarding the US. What a weird timeline.