Sweden’s NATO Accession Unlocks Defense Options to Fend Off Russia

  • Officials warn of Russian ability to attack NATO within years
  • Sweden’s geography to help NATO rapidly reinforce front lines
Antony Blinken receives the NATO ratification documents from Ulf Kristersson during a ceremony at the US State Department in Washington, DC on March 7.

Photographer: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images

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Sweden’s entry into NATO can help solve a critical problem for military planners mapping out the alliance’s defenses against a potential Russian attack: how to rapidly shuttle troops, weapons and other provisions to a front anywhere from the Baltic to the Arctic.

After months of delays, the green light for Sweden’s membership means the Nordic nation can finally be woven into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s intricate defense plans, which designate Russia as a primary threat.