Russia threatens Baltic nuclear deployment if Finland, Sweden join Nato

Moscow, Apr 14 (EFE).- Russia warned Nato on Thursday that they would deploy nuclear weapons to bolster their defense in the Baltic region if Sweden and Finland joined the military alliance.

“There can be no more talk of any nuclear-free status for the Baltic, the balance must be restored,” Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said.

“Until today, Russia has not taken such measures and was not going to, (…) If our hand is forced well… take note, it wasn’t us who proposed this,” he added.

Medvedev’s comments came after Finland said on Wednesday that it would take a decision on whether to apply to Nato in the next few weeks, while Sweden announced Monday it would open a debate on its position with the organization.

Finland and Sweden are close allies with Nato but not members of the US-led alliance.

Medvedev, who was president of Russia from 2008 to 2012, said that if the two countries joined the alliance, the land border between Russia and Nato would double, disrupting the military balance in the region.

He also denied that the invasion of Ukraine was to blame for Nato potentially admitting Sweden and Finland.

“Attempts to drag them into the alliance have been made before,” he said. EFE

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