Russian Diplomat: Deployment of NATO Troops in Sweden, Finland Harms Security of Alliance

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said, on Wednesday, that the Nort Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) plans to deploy its forces in both Sweden and Finland after they join the alliance. He warned that such a measure will harm the security of the alliance.

Grushko said, in exclusive statements to the Russian "TASS" news agency: It is possible to assume that after (Finland and Sweden) become NATO members, they will become part of the unified defense system and part of NATO's defense planning.

He added that NATO will force them to provide part of their territory to host foreign units, and to deploy additional forces."

The Russian diplomat said, "This will make the security situation for NATO worse, creating additional risks for it."

It is noteworthy that the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization "NATO" Jens Stoltenberg announced earlier yesterday that the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO has been almost completed, commenting that their accession would make them "more secure", as he put it.