a sweden has a maritime border with russia. did president putin think that things would go this far, that, that he could be confronted with the possibility of nato getting to russia's border in this particular way? i won't send one that actually join the need to in moscow. yes, it was a bit of a surprise because of the relationship with harrison. he was always considered as a privileged one since the soviet times since after and world war 2. when fin during the cold war was basically a rush. so yet protectorate. and it was believed in moscow that that was very good for moscow and good for the friends. all the friends finish people have a very, are somewhat different kind of, or a correction of those times. they don't like them. and the finish military as, as the swedish military for, oh, all the time they were always thinking about defending against russian soviet troops. they were not that they were neutral, but not preparing to fight anyone else that so there's different perceptions in moscow. and in those 2 countries of what

will finland and sweden joining nato make europe safer? despite warnings from russia, both countries made the decision after the invasion of ukraine. how will the kremlin respond? this is inside story. ah hello and welcome to the program. i'm how much am jerome, finland, and sweden decided against joining nato for many years. both have a long history of remaining neutral during wars and staying out of military alliances. all that changed when russia invaded ukraine. leaders of the nordic nations blame president vladimir putin for endangering security in europe for finland. the decision could mean abandoning its policy of avoiding confrontation with its enormous neighbor. russia's deputy foreign minister warned a far reaching consequences. the kremlin says it could send more troops to the 1300 kilometer border with finland. but becoming a member of the western military alliance isn't guaranteed. as step vast reports from the german capital, berlin, finland, and sweet, and will be warmly welcomed into the nato military alliance. that was the

finland and sweden make nato stronger. not just because of the capacities, but because they are strong, strong democracies. a strong, united nato is the foundation of america's security. by joining nato, allies make a sacred commitment to one another. that an attack on one is an attack against all. it's article 5 of the washington troaty and the core building block of our alliance. the only time in history article 5 has been invoked was after 9/11, when the united states was attacked and all our allies rallied to our side. the united states will never forget that. and we will never fail in our pledge to defend every single inch of nato territory. i welcome sweden and finland choosing that responsibility as well. it's going to benefit all of our people and today, the president, prime minister and i committed that we're going to work together to remain vigilant against threats to our shared security and to deter and confront any aggression while finland and sweden are in this accession process. there's nothing going to be mi

and for sweden. after 200 years of military nonalignment, sweden has chosen a new path. yesterday stsweden and finland submittedour formal request to join nato . and russia's full-scale aggression against the sovereign and democratic neighbor that was a watershed momentfor sweden . and my government has come to the conclusion that the security of the swedish people will be best protected within the nato alliance. this is backed by a verybroad support in the swedish parliament . and with sweden and finland as members, nato will also be stronger. we are security providers with sophisticated defense capabilities. and we are champions of freedom, democracy and human rights. we have a long tradition of extensive military cooperation with nato including all missions. and we are right now wrapping up our defense spending and will reach two percent of gdp as soon aspractically possible . and mister president e, your support for our countries nato aspirations and security are of fundamental importance . and we look forward to swift processes by nato members and we are right now h

sweden is joining them. it looks like they will be a joint application. i think this shows that this is a hinge point in history. countries got dressed up for two centuries were able to remain neutral to have a good relationship with russia have recalculated because of the horrific war in ukraine. they see the brutality of russian soldiers so they want more safety and this is why they are joining nato. the whole region, you asked about the strategic landscape has changed dramatically should this go through. some people have described it as a nato lake, the baltic. so you increase that in an area that was a vacuum for security. this will change dramatically and i think this is going to be very hard to explain to the public, that instead of pushing back on nato, it has two new members. >> we have run out of time and we will have to leave the conversation there, q-tip -- thank you to our guests. thank you for watching, you can see the program by visiting our website, aljazeera.com and on facebook, facebook.com/

the country's deputy foreign minister said that sweden, sweden and finland joining nature would seriously worse than the military situation in the region and lead to the most undesirable consequences. what was meant by that? well, i think nicholas was quite right when he called the warriors and made to a league or whenever you crown her all c. oh i know her. oh, you know, controlled by just one muted you walk. this is all is back. like one woman in by. oh, i see you there, 7 canadian center, the same story here or in fact, oh, the image of sweden and finland in rough is you very, with all the ins. and of course there is a 0 chance or where military solution. why? wonder? oh, or do you use against ukraine? simply because info at sweden behave much more racially than the corolla, an breezily nationalist, ukrainian regime that established itself by force in vogue, which he so i don't expect for anything. what will happen you granger? ah, but i expect a lot of speed and i would start to walk away local hours. i remind you that every year in sweden there is a part of the wave of the so called

ah, sweden and finland said they want to join nato. that's despite warnings from moscow, with washers invasion of ukraine are. those countries on the threat, and what will nato membership mean for the nordic region? this is inside story. ah, hello, welcome to the program, i'm adrian finnegan, before the russian invasion of ukraine, nato membership barely featured in political debates in finland and sweden. but moscow's actions and nuclear threats may have gained the western military alliance to new members. the leaders of both countries have the support of germany, where they recently met chancellor of shots to talk about security in the region. moscow's repeatedly warned of serious consequences if finland or sweden joined the alliance of the decision will be neither easy nor quick if they apply the parliaments of all 30 nato countries. b to approve new members. and that could take time is a bi lender and sizes. so if these 2 countries decide that they want to join nato, they can count on our support. the members of the government made

sweden is likely to do the same. nato foreign ministers, who are meeting in berlin, say they want a rapid accession because of the crisis in ukraine. the secretary general of nato, jens stoltenberg, welcomed finland's application, and said it would increase nato�*s shared security. president putin has already called finland's move "a mistake." from berlin, our europe correspondent, nick beake, reports. a fresh aerial attack lights the sky above the besieged mariupol steelworks. this is where the last of the city's defenders have been holed up, a final ukrainian stand against a relentless russian bombardment. but as well as by land and by sea, russia continues its assault from the air, focusing its fight on the donbas region. here in the german capital, foreign ministers from nato countries shoulder—to—shoulder, pledging support for ukraine. and now preparing to welcome two new members with finland confirming today it will seek to join the alliance. we have reached today an important decision in good cooperation

sweden and finland. — message to sweden. sweden and finland. if— message to sweden. sweden and finland, if you are ready, we are ready _ thank you. turkey's position has probably— thank you. turkey's position has probably also figured dominantly. the turkish finish two foreign minister— the turkish finish two foreign minister demanded guarantees was up are you _ minister demanded guarantees was up are you ready to agree to these conditions?— are you ready to agree to these conditions? ., ~ , ., ~' conditions? how likely do think it is for to quickly _ conditions? how likely do think it is for to quickly accept _ conditions? how likely do think it is for to quickly accept an - is for to quickly accept an application? _ is for to quickly accept an application? do - is for to quickly accept an application?— is for to quickly accept an application? is for to quickly accept an a- lication? i. , . . , application? do you expect any retaliation _ application? do you expect any retaliation or _ application? do you expect any retaliation or measures - application? do

tell us what this means for finland and sweden in their bits to join nato. well this is obviously going to have to be worked out because the new members can only be admitted to the alliance by unanimous consent. that means that or to one will have to agree to let them in what he's accusing sweden and finland of doing is not, is sending back not extra dining. some members of the p k k, the kurdistan people's party, which everyone considers a terrorist organization. if not extradited them at his request. now the european union did put the p k k on its list of terrorist organizations in 2002, and sweden have been and finland have reminded on her that they obey all of these rules. but now everyone seems to be bringing up specific cases of people. he's asked to be sent back that they haven't done in sweden and finland aren't the only ones who were planning to negotiate. this. certainly this will be an issue for nato secretary general, un stolberg. and the united states will have something to say about this as well, because all countries except turkey have assured

p on defense, sweden expects to reach that by 2028. ah. all right, let's go ahead and bring in our guests in finland's capital, helsinki, o and mcnamara. visiting research fellow at the finish institute of international affairs in brussels in belgium, theresa fallon, director of center for russia, europe, asia studies, and in russia's capital. moscow popple falcon, how're a defense and military analyst, a warm welcome to you all and thanks so much for joining us today on inside story, teresa, let me start with you today. i guess the big question right now is will finland and sweden joining nato make europe safer? well, this has been a long time coming. i think we say invasion rushes, you invasion of ukraine. it has been a hinge moment. let's remember sweden has been neutral for 200 years and this is a huge change for finland as well. so yes, i think that this will fill a vacuum that's in that area and the baltic feel a lot safer. there was a letter mary, conference in is telling you this weekend and everyone was pretty much dancing for joy

tomorrow, finland and sweden are going. just the juxtaposition of what is going on in the world right now as you all are trying to focus (inaudible). mr. sullivan: and, you know, it's interesting, we actually don't regard this as a tension between investing time, energy, and attention in europe and time, energy, and attention in the indo-pacific. we regard this as mutually reinforcing. first, look at the indo-pacific partners that have stepped up to help make these sanctions and export controls as effective as they are: korea, japan, australia, even singapore. second, look at the extent to which european countries are increasingly invested in the indo-pacific, in helping ensure that our vision of a free and open indo-pacific is actually realized. we see that with the auukus partnership, where you've got the united kingdom alongside australia and the united states. we see it with the way the european union has, for the first time ever, put out an indo-pacific strategy. and so, actually, we think that there is something quite

about sweden and sweden's security, the... there is a separate _ sweden's security, the... there is a separate conversation going on in sweden _ separate conversation going on in sweden that i don't want to get into, _ sweden that i don't want to get into, it — sweden that i don't want to get into, it is — sweden that i don't want to get into, it is a _ sweden that i don't want to get into, it is a matter for sweden. but what _ into, it is a matter for sweden. but what we _ into, it is a matter for sweden. but what we are — into, it is a matter for sweden. but what we are saying is about sweden's future _ what we are saying is about sweden's future relationship with nato, that is a matter— future relationship with nato, that is a matter for sweden. what we are saying _ is a matter for sweden. what we are saying emphatically in the event of a disaster— saying emphatically in the event of a disaster oran saying emphatically in the event of a disaster or an attack upon sweden, then the _ a disaster or an attack upon swe

— harboured in finland and sweden? . ., ., sweden? the concern about how cuickl sweden? the concern about how quickly finland — sweden? the concern about how quickly finland and _ sweden? the concern about how quickly finland and sweden - sweden? the concern about how quickly finland and sweden can i quickly finland and sweden can be admitted to nato through the usual processes and they promised to fast track that leaves the possibility of a year. it depends on all member states coming to unanimous agreement, turkey has signalled some little issues around this. the question here, i would think is that the big concern that sweden has as indicated by a security pact that recently signed with the uk because it's concerned of the russian reaction in the interim period, the transition period between announcing its decision to join nato and actually becoming a member of nato and therefore being able to enjoy mutual defence guarantees that nato brings. figs defence guarantees that nato brinus. �* , ., ., defence guarantees that nato brinus. a ., ., , ., brings. as we wait

if finland and sweden are admitted into nato. that something president biden told the leaders of both countries he fully backs. de. i'm proud to welcome and offer the strong support of the united states. for the applications a to great democracies, and to close highly capable partners to join the strongest, most powerful defensive allies in the history of the world. but while biden may be keen to welcome sweden and finland into native se, if you would have turkey's president, edwin has made clear that he has objections in his europe. addressing the turkish parliament on wednesday, he accused the 2 nordic countries of supporting kurdish militias of turkey considers terrorist groups i go on and up. we have finished. president said that they were trying to address techies concerns. the whole aaliyah's assa nato allies . we will commit to turkey security, just as turkey will commit to olive security. we take terrorism seriously. we condemn terrorism in all its forms, and we are actively engaged in combating it. we are open to discuss

right, and, and so sweden and finland site. all right, well, going to apply to join nato and all the nato countries except to you. so yeah. would you crane have cause to feel hog done by? because if this happens, data is refuse to protect your credit because the cranes non member, even though they want to be a now sweden and finland are asking for protection while their application is being considered. well, it is, it is a bit ironic. is it not that ukraine is stuck in this war? allegedly because he wanted to join it was rush us really rush us, most of a state motivation for, for invading ukraine, wanting to, to dictate it states where this, when land are at peace and are on not being invaded by russia. and if we're not even planning to join nature and all of a sudden they are, they walking into an open door because apart from turkey, no country, it seems, it seems likely to voice any objection. and they are incredibly, incredibly attractive candidates, which is of course, the difference between them and ukraine. for 4 reasons.

our security policy is a matter for sweden up and no one else will. you know, mom was like no and a strong nordic voice and natal gives us increased opportunity is to protect our common interests in the baltic c region by giving them. so the best coverage via sac in the best thing for the security of sweden and the security of the spanish people is to join nato and do it together with finland. or fillings are minister for european affairs to, to, to provide them explained to the w y, her country have decided to apply for night membership. no, well, 20 both changed everything for us. it was to wake up call. not just for us being spotted to us all to assess the changing security environment. let us be clear that has not been neutral in any sense. we have been firmly rooted in the west of the world. we have the member in the european union since 1995. so you know that since it was quite natural for our public to react to be some war in a way that the support for nathan membership was huge already from the parents bulls holes in early march. so none of us

the alliance has always made clear to finland and sweden . there's a place for them here, room for more flags and some offices that could use a new tenants. but as some of the most wealthy well equipped countries in europe, these new nordic members would feel much more important gaps than those sweden, england bring difference. assets to nato. finland famously brings the ability to guard of barren lat long land border with russia. we even brings a 500 year old navy and a navy that is among the largest in the baltic sea where we should remember. nathan doesn't have very many large mabis. accepting the 2 country should be a no brainer for nato says, former finish prime minister alexander stoop. them ordinates compatible the most natal member states themselves. so take fiddlers example, we always spent about 2 percent of our g, d, p on military expenditure. we have reserves with 900000. we can mobilize 280000 quickly during a war time. we have 62 f eighteens just bought 64 f 35 and indeed nato secretary general un stilton burn. has said this wou

a couple of air wings in sweden? sketching out the range of plausible debate as you would see it. >> is not something we have discussed yet. as i said, we are a successful nation on our own and we have been allowed for a long time. as i have seen, there is no debate on what will be stationed in sweden. i do not think anything right now. that is how we are going into the alliance. the most important part is operational planning. that is crucial. when you become a nato member that is what happens. we know how we can operate together. we already have quite deep planning with finland. it is not as deep as it would be within the alliance. i have not seen that there is no discussion on troops or things like that. we are quite capable and we are already collaborating very closely with our finish -- finnish friends i norway and denmark -- and norway and denmark. we hope we bring good knowledge about our region and given how intelligence services operate. we see a road in the baltic sea. we have quite strong navy, a very stro

also, there's another issue with sweden and that is that sweden pushed for and implemented an arms embargo on turkish weaponry in 2019 when turkey entered parts of northeastern syria with operations aimed at some of these kurdish groups there. so those are two issues that he's also trying to bring to the floor, but diplomats also say, diplomatic experts, say that this is part of having some say around the negotiating table and also trying to get the united states more involved as well. kate? >> nina, thank you so much for that. i appreciate it. >>> joining me with more is the former prime minister of finland, now the director of the school of transnational governance at the european university institute. thank you so much for being here, prime minister. first, just your reaction, what you heard, what your takeaway was, from what we heard from the leaders just now? >> well, i think it was a portrayal of strong support and an alliance which has existed there, in all but name, and i must say as an avid advocate of finnish nato membership for the past 30 years it was heartwarming to see the pr

sweden would not move about finland and finland would not have moved without sweden. sweden lost one-third of the t territory. it is still an independent state. the history of the three are li linked the geography is linked. the land doubling with nato and russia direct land barriers and borders. the fact of the mastter is the border between finland and russia the finns have felt safe because of the actions of russia, they do not feel safe anymore. a bigger move for the establishment meeting and debating in the magnificent building behind me in central stockholm. i spoke to other ws who called other partners we understand they are surprised of the comments from her because they had some form of implicit knowledge. that is another issue for another day. let's listen to the tape i got yesterday at social democrat headquarters where i spoke to the foreign minister here in sweden i asked her what changed pretty much your question. listen in to see what she had to say. >> we have seen how russia is behaving with a full-scale invasion of the friendly, democratic non aligned

sweden had been neutral for 200 years. finland was neutral and not aligned militarily with anybody since world war ii. and putin's invasion of ukraine has caused them to apply for nato membership. something that wasn't really in the cards even a few years ago. what you'll see, if you look at the map, you'll see all of the countries bordering russia, with the exception of ukraine now, will become nato members. >> rick, i think they're actually walking down the exterior hallway that is going to lead to -- there we go. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> so, they've been meeting at the oval office. the president received them both. rick, you know what, it's -- when you say things, it's just extraordinary thing. sweden had been neutral for more than 200 years. i mean, these are extraordinary times. >> yes. in fact, some people have joked that putin has managed to do something stalin never did, which is to cause finland and sweden to become members of nato. so, it's just -- these countries are so alarmed by putin's violation of the territorial so

we welcome the fact that sweden -- finland and sweden have applied for nato membership. i am confident that we will be able to address the concerns that have in expressed and we will be able to welcome finland and sweden as members of our alliance. >> just a follow-up on finland and sweden, two countries that you know very well and neighbors of norway, where you were prime minister for a decade. you say you are welcoming them, and i believe that is welcome in helsinki, but not in ankara. how do you deal with the challenge from mr. erdogan? sec. gen. stoltenberg: i spoke with mr. erdogan on saturday, and we are seeing statements and turkey has expressed concerns related to terrorism, to their security interests. and then we have to do what we always do in nato, and that is to sit down and address concerns when allies express concerns. and i'm confident we will able to do as we have so many times before, find a way to solve this issue and agree and then to welcome finland and sweden as full-fledged members of our alliance. i know finland and sweden well, as in your region.

there's already a lot of respect from nato towards sweden, but i think the fact that sweden are joints gives nato a lot of new capabilities on give suite in the capabilities to no longer risk an uncertain future alone. u. s. president joe biden has spoken out against what he call the poison of white supremacy in the united states. he was speaking in the city of buffalo and new york state where 10 black people was shot dead on saturday and were police are treating as a racial hate crime? the teenage suspect is believed to have been a follower of racist ideology. a make shift memorial. a focal point for grief and remembrance near the place where the shootings happened . a grocery store and mostly african american neighbourhood. the area closed off later for the president. and 1st ladies, 1st stop to way flowers of their own and connect with community leaders. who am i come to stand with you? the president and his wife had travel to buffalo to offer support, but also to put a label on what police say is the driving force hall behind the massacre by a young white man targeting black people

finland and sweden's nato membership is not a done deal. all existing 30 members need to agree to it, and turkey could yet hold up the process. but many allies are now promising to fast—track these applications in the face of ongoing russian aggression. nick beake, bbc news, berlin. we spoke to kurt volker, former us ambassador to nato from 2008 until 2009 and was the special representative for ukraine negotiations between 2017 and 2019. there has been a lot of talk about finland and sweden joining nato really ever since the end of the soviet union and the fall of the berlin wall. what does neutrality really mean in a modern world like this? and so, there are always discussions, but i went to a high school in sweden so i understand the traditions that are there and the attachment to to nonalignment in peacetime. and yet, when you see russia behave the way it has, unprovoked, attacking a neighbour, engaging in all of these barbaric acts as we just saw in your report, this is something that signals to the finns and swedes that nonalignment

so what to sweden and finland bring to nato if they join that's a good question. so if you look at most expansions since the cold war, they've been countries that are emerging from communism that have really broken defense infrastructure to have issues with democratic governance and corruption, swindling sweden and finland are 2 different countries. they are modern countries, they score higher on corruption indices than the united states. does. you know they are more democratic and less growth than most of the advanced democracies in the world. and they have modern militaries that have already conducted deployments with nato. you know? yes. and that have conducted exercises nato, so they bring no downside and a lot of military capability. it's a real addition to the alliance. there has been an argument put forward that countries like bella, luce and ukraine, for example, have served as a useful buffer for nato countries. between them and russia, and obviously that buffer to some extent could have been said to exist within finland as well. is there an increased ris

does the same apply to sweden? >> i tnk if that were the only thing that would've happened, but if you remember, if you go back to november and decber, russia was very assertive that not only ukraine should not be able to join nato, but also other countries that were considering or contemplating. this was actually the main problem for sweden and finland, and the finnish president made this clear just a few days ago when he reminded people th russia insisted on shutting the door on the part of sweden and finland. in that sense, sweden has had to relinquish part of their sovereignty in order to accommodate rush upon interest. so it was those two things, it was looking at what russia was doing in ukraine, but also russia's insistence that finland never join nato. mark: they are important distinctions, and think you for pointing those out to us. i'm wondering will there be a similar kind of revenge meted out to sweden by the russians? >> we are not dependenon the energy supply of russia, reall but yes, i can well imagi

russia hasn't been to war with sweden for 2 centuries, she says. the warnings about russia are just nato propaganda. anton hamburg, an economic student in his 20s, says the decision has been rushed. >> i don't think people should be scared that rush is going to invade sweden. i think that's preposterous. >> amid fears the ukraine invasion could spark a bigger conflict, we meet, who fled his native germany after the second world war, first, for neutral austria before settling in sweden's 60 years ago. >> now it comes back, all the memories. >> reporter: so how do you feel about sweden's move to join nato? >> it's right. because nobody knows what will happen in the next 10 years. >> reporter: and is also positive about nato's expansion, just sad her country wasn't afforded its protection. >> have an opportunity to be safe, and protect their people. what's happening now in our country, it may happen to any of us. >> a lot of the weaponry being used on the battlefield to make a difference to defend countries like ukraine is made here in sweden. most no

terry schultz about sweden's historic. you turn to give you an example of how sudden this reversal has been. just in march prime minister anderson herself said that she thought joining nato would be d, stabilizing. she's had to come around after public opinion shifted, and as you mentioned, after finland decided that it was going to go ahead with membership, sweden simply felt that it couldn't be left alone outside the alliance. and his article 5 guarantees would about sweden and finland when it comes to russia and roches threats. you know, both of these countries have long lived in the vicinity of, of russia, of course, finland sharing a 1300 kilometer border. so they are used to having to deal with these hybrid warfare tactics, these, these threats, whenever they do something that the crumbling doesn't like. so they have been prepared that as they moved closer to nato membership, there would be threats coming from moscow and, and today, even the crumbling saying it's not really against the membership, it's simply against

w news live from berlin. nato's expansion plans in jeopardy as turkey blocked talks on finland and sweden joining the western military alliance. and nato ambassadors failed to reach agreement. also on the program, moscow says nearly a 1000 ukrainian fighters have surrendered to russian forces in many of their fate is now unclear. and the united nations issues its latest stark warning over climate change. scientists say key indicators of global warming, new records, and that time is running out. ah, i'm so gayle welcome to the program. turkey has blocked talks on finland and sweden joining nato. both nordic nations have now formerly submitted their membership beds . new members require unanimous agreement from all 30 current members, but turkey has said no turkish president reggie type early on, accuses fealand and sweden of harboring kurdish terrorists. another dispute is over sophisticated weaponry for turkey. the issue could actually be about us fighter jets. turkey was dropped from the f 35 advanced fighter jet development program in 2019 this was part of the us sanctions packet impose

this is what nato is for common defense and for sweden and finland. the fact that they have abandoned decades of policy towards russia and neutrality in the nato, russia oz network. this is a clear sign of failure. also, of putin stated goals and ames and with his invasion of ukraine. he said this was a response against expansion of nato, but he's actually just made clear why this defensive alliance is still necessary. we talked about gil, this is the nato expansion. is that a completely non guilty? is it an innocent activity, an innocent political policy that has been taking place for so long? i think the expansion of nato, as a reaction to the wish wishes of the new members. i mean that they came to the nature and said, we would like to be part of the club. it was not the nato that said, you must be part of it. and that's why i think, am the russian narrative of being surrounded by the nature of being even threatened that it is a myth, is a necessary myth in order to to keep on line if you will need to go with that. yeah, absolutely. go with that. a