Foreign Minister Calls in Russian Envoy Over ‘Threats’ About Sweden Joining NATO

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström, Jan. 23, 2015From Johan Sennero, Reuters:  Sweden has called in Russia’s ambassador to explain comments by a foreign ministry spokeswoman who said any Swedish decision to join NATO would have “consequences” that would compel Russia to respond. …

Tensions have been mounting recently, with Sweden increasingly concerned by Moscow’s actions in Ukraine and military activity around the Baltic region.

On Thursday a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said Sweden’s admission to NATO “would have military, political and foreign policy consequences that would require indispensable response measures from the Russian side….”

From Local (Sweden):  “We are an independent state and it’s us who makes the decisions about our security policies and our security policy choices,” she [Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom] told the TT news agency.

“We don’t think anyone should be threatening us and I have called up the Russian ambassador so we can have the chance to ask a few questions and so that they can explain themselves.”

NATO Northern Europe Russia Security & Defense

Image: Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström, Jan. 23, 2015 (photo: Latvian Foreign Ministry)