Finland and Sweden: balancing the threat? Road to NATO membership

Abstract

1 Univerzita Karlova Fakulta sociálních věd Institut politologických studií Diploma thesis project Finland and Sweden: balacing the threat? Road to NATO membership Name: Bc. Eliška Křížová Academic advisor: Aliaksei Kazharski, Ph.D. Study programme: Mezinárodní vztahy (N0312A200034) Year of project submission: 2023 2 Introduction to the topic The aim of this work is to explain the development of security and defence policy of Finland and Sweden through the concept of balance of threat. The reason to select this concept and tie it with Finland and Sweden is that in February 2022, the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine and started a war that is still happening as of November 2023. As a consequence, the countries which based their defence and security policy on non-alignment - Finland along with Sweden - have decided to reconsider their stance on joining of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. As of today, both applied to join NATO1 with Finland becoming a Member State on 4th of April 2023, while Sweden's accession to NATO has been stalled by Turkey, caused by the issue of Sweden's support to Kurds, and Hungary. As of 15th of November, the Turkish parliament's foreign affairs committee is scheduled to debate Sweden's bid to join NATO on Thursday, 16th of November. This thus leaves Hungary as the only NATO...

1 Univerzita Karlova Fakulta sociálních věd Institut politologických studií Diploma thesis project Finland and Sweden: balacing the threat? Road to NATO membership Name: Bc. Eliška Křížová Academic advisor: Aliaksei Kazharski, Ph.D. Study programme: Mezinárodní vztahy (N0312A200034) Year of project submission: 2023 2 Introduction to the topic The aim of this work is to explain the development of security and defence policy of Finland and Sweden through the concept of balance of threat. The reason to select this concept and tie it with Finland and Sweden is that in February 2022, the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine and started a war that is still happening as of November 2023. As a consequence, the countries which based their defence and security policy on non-alignment - Finland along with Sweden - have decided to reconsider their stance on joining of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. As of today, both applied to join NATO1 with Finland becoming a Member State on 4th of April 2023, while Sweden's accession to NATO has been stalled by Turkey, caused by the issue of Sweden's support to Kurds, and Hungary. As of 15th of November, the Turkish parliament's foreign affairs committee is scheduled to debate Sweden's bid to join NATO on Thursday, 16th of November. This thus leaves Hungary as the only NATO...