When: Monday, May 23, 2022, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EDT
Where: The Brookings Institution, Saul Room, 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW
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What: Long committed to neutrality in the realms of foreign and security policy, the Nordic countries of Finland and Sweden have fundamentally reassessed their positions in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The two countries are expected to apply for NATO membership and fast-tracked accession is likely.
What effects might Finnish and Swedish NATO membership have on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and future NATO-Russia relations? How fast could membership come into effect, and what, if any, interim steps should be considered to enhance the security of Finland and Sweden in the meantime? How would NATO adapt its forward military posture to reinforce Article V mutual defense guarantees for these potential new members?
On May 23, Brookings will host an event featuring the Finnish ambassador to the U.S., Mikko Hautala, and the Swedish ambassador to the U.S., Karin Ulrika Olofsdotter, to discuss the implications of such a course of action for their two countries and for NATO. The conversation will be moderated by Brookings Senior Fellows Michael E. O’Hanlon and Constanze Stelzenmüller. After the discussion, the ambassadors will take questions from the audience.
This event has reached capacity and registration is now closed.