April 16, 2022 – Anna Van Densky blog

Brussels 16.04.2022 Russia is warning of new nuclear deployments in the Baltics if Finland and Sweden join NATO, as the two countries discussing a perspective to becoming part of the military alliance.

Russia warns of new nuclear deployments in Baltics if Finland, Sweden join NATO https://t.co/tesFUmQ00A pic.twitter.com/wU35fsrxaT

— The Hill (@thehill) April 16, 2022

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and former President of Russia, wrote in a Telegram post on Thursday, April 14, that “there can be no talk of non-nuclear status for the Baltic” if Finland and Sweden join NATO.

A gentle reminder that there is nothing new here. The nukes are already there. Let’s stop spreading Moscow’s propaganda, or at least qualify it.

Russia warns of nuclear expansion in Baltics if Finland and Sweden join Nato via @FT
https://t.co/qZhlz3t7FG

— Alexander Stubb (@alexstubb) April 15, 2022

The chairman said that should Finland and Sweden join NATO, Moscow would need to “seriously strengthen the grouping of land forces and air defense, deploy significant naval forces in the waters of the Gulf of Finland.”

Sweden & Finland will be big assets to NATO. Highly integrated with each other, highly inter-operable with NATO & in the latter case the largest artillery force in Europe, among other strengths. Their membership will also make it easier to defend NATO's northern flank & Baltics.

— Shashank Joshi (@shashj) April 13, 2022

“In this case, it will no longer be possible to talk about any nuclear-free status of the Baltic — the balance must be restored,” he added, according to CNBC.

Lithuania's Prime Minister isn't worried about Medvedev's threat to deploy nukes in the Baltic region if Sweden and Finland join NATO:

"That Russia threatens, it is nothing new. Kaliningrad is a very militarised zone, has been for many years, and it is in the Baltic region”

— Samuel Ramani (@SamRamani2) April 14, 2022

Medvedev said that previously “Russia has not taken such measures and was not going to,” according to Reuters.

“If our hand is forced well … take note it wasn’t us who proposed this,” he added.