The US is confident it can address any security concerns Sweden and Finland may have about the time between applying for NATO membership and being accepted into the alliance, according to the White House on Thursday.
Sweden and Finland are concerned that they will be vulnerable to Russian threats during the application process, which could take up to a year if all 30 NATO members approve it.
“We are confident that we could find ways to address any concerns either country may have about the period of time between a NATO membership application and the formal accession to the alliance,” White House spokesperson Jen Psaki told a briefing.
This month, both Sweden and Finland are expected to make a decision on whether or not to apply to join NATO.
After meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde stated that she had received security assurances, but she did not provide any details.
Last month, Sweden’s defence minister stated that such an application could prompt a variety of Russian responses, including cyber attacks and hybrid measures, such as propaganda campaigns, to undermine Sweden’s security.
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