NATO expansion, military exercises raise security concerns

"NATO grew bigger and more capable," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on March 14 in his annual report for 2023, as the alliance welcomed Finland and Sweden as new members.

The Nordic countries, including Norway, Sweden and Finland, also wrapped up the Nordic Response 2024 military exercises on Thursday, focusing on the defense and protection of NATO's northern region.

The military drill across air, land and sea commenced on Monday and involved over 20,000 military staff from 13 countries. In response, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said that these exercises are of a demonstrative and provocative nature, adding that any exercises, especially those that are close to the contact line, "increase the danger of military incidents."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia will deploy its troops and strike systems near neighboring Finland and Sweden's borders following their accession to NATO.

In an interview with local media, Putin added that the two countries' decision to join NATO was a senseless step from the point of view of ensuring their national interests.

Cycle of intensifying military tension

Analysts say NATO's expansion accelerated the vicious cycle of intensifying military tension in the region.

From a geopolitical perspective, Sweden's entry into NATO will intensify the confrontation between Russia and the West in the Baltic Sea region, Dong Yifan, a research fellow with the Institute of European Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, wrote in an opinion piece for CGTN.

"Given that the Baltic countries have long held a defensive and vigilant attitude towards Russia, NATO will exert greater military pressure to form a strategic deterrent against Russia. This move, in turn, will enhance Russia's insecurity and force it to adopt tougher military deployments and actions in response," he added.

Su Xiaohui, an associate research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told China Media Group that Sweden's accession to NATO cut the communication channel between Russia and the alliance.

As the neutral countries joined the military alliance, it signified a further deterioration of Russia's external security environment and changes in the European security landscape, Su noted.

She said Sweden is also one of the few countries in Europe with a complete defense industry system as well as capability in the production of equipment for its army, navy and air force. Sweden has already provided military assistance to Ukraine, and after joining NATO, it will probably play a greater role in military aid to Ukraine, she assessed.

In late February, Putin signed a decree approving the re-establishment of the Moscow and Leningrad military districts to strengthen Russia's northwestern military forces in response to NATO's northern expansion.

(Cover: Flags of NATO member countries flap in the wind outside at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 14, 2024. /CFP)