A New Northern Flank: Sweden and Finland in NATO  

作　　者：Magnus Christiansson 

机构地区：[1]Swedish Defence University,Stockholm,Sweden

出　　处：《International Relations and Diplomacy》2023年第5期225-232,共8页国际关系与外交（英文版）

摘　　要：On June 282022 Sweden and Finland were invited to join NATO.During a symbolic ceremony at the NATO Madrid Summit,all the central actors gathered in front of the cameras,as if to replicate a“family photo”in mini format:representatives from Sweden,Finland,and Turkey,as well as Secretary General Stoltenberg.The atmosphere was mixed:tense because of the dramatic backdrop of the Summit,relief because of the speedy process that had taken the process further.It was finally happening:Sweden and Finland would join the Atlantic Pact.But how did they get there?Over a few hectic months,two countries strongly associated with neutrality had moved their policies from emphasizing continuity to altering the very foundations of their security.Not only NATO critics were taken by surprise.Many NATO supporters were astonished by the rapid pace and the turnaround of the Swedish Social Democratic party.The relatively quick turnaround in Stockholm also meant that questions about the future and the consequences of NATO membership were postponed,not least because the Swedish election campaign put a lid on debate about strategic consequences:what journey awaits in the future and what strategic consequences does a future NATO membership have?This article discusses these questions in the belief that the temporal perspectives are connected:Sweden’s historical collaboration with NATO had significance for the country’s partner relationship,and in turn this influenced how Sweden became a member and what challenges the country faces together with its allies on a new northern flank in Europe.

关 键 词：Sweden NATO Cold War ENLARGEMENT Northern Flank 

分 类 号：E92[军事—军事装备学]