NATO membership for Sweden and Finland

[Monash]

Yeah. Russia really fucked itself there. I can see some EU nations buying again at some point, but that market will never be what it was. Meanwhile China & others will be able to buy from a motivated seller at bargain prices. Oh dear.

As I recall the price cap put in place by America and it's allies means Russia gets to sell at a price that just barely covers production. So Russia has to sell large volumes of oil and gas to even make any money at all. Meanwhile there's no quick way for Putin to increase pipeline deliveries to China because the infrastructure has to be built and he's imposed 'windfall taxes on Gazprom and other producers to pay for the war. I checked BTW and Gazprom's share price has halved since the start of the war. As a result Gazprom and other firms are struggling to raise the capital needed to fund new projects and even if they do raise they still need imported technology before they can proceed! So China will own Russia when this war is over.

[Bigfella]

As I recall the price cap put in place by America and it's allies means Russia gets to sell at a price that just barely covers production. So Russia has to sell large volumes of oil and gas to even make any money at all. Meanwhile there's no quick way for Putin to increase pipeline deliveries to China because the infrastructure has to be built and he's imposed 'windfall taxes on Gazprom and other producers pay for the war. (I checked BTW and Gazproms share price has halved since the start of the war and it no longer has the access to the capital and technology it needs to do so anyway! So China will own Russia when this war is over.

When Russia invaded in 2014 and got hit by a bunch of sanctions I called it - China was going to own Russia in the forseeable future. Not in my wildest dreams could I have forseen how quickly. Beijing now has both hands around Russia's squishy bits and will tighten the grip as Russia needs to rebuild its military & economy after the war. Who would have imagined a few years ago that China would be offering security guarantees to CSTO members, let alone that they would do it and Russia say....absolutely nothing? Crazy stuff.

Even if Putin gets to keep bits of Ukraine there is no way it will come close to compensating for the damage done by this war.

[TopHatter]

Newest NATO member Finland to spend 2.3% of GDP on defence



FILE PHOTO: Finland hosts first military exercise in the High North above the Arctic Circle as NATO member, in Rovajarvi

HELSINKI (Reuters) - NATO's newest member Finland plans to spend 2.3% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence next year, its defence ministry said on Monday.

In July, NATO's 31 member-nations agreed to spend a minimum of 2% of their GDP on defence. Previously the 2% target had been a goal to aim for over time and only seven allies met the target in 2022, according to NATO.

Finland joined the alliance in April, in a historic security policy U-turn in response to neighbouring Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

It said it planned to spend 6 billion euros ($6.48 billion), or 2.3% of its GDP, on defence in 2024, which is some 116 million euros less than the estimate for 2023.

Finland's defence spending has increased significantly in recent years, even before it became a NATO member, because it is replacing its ageing fleet of F/A-18 combat jets with F-35 fighter jets.

Finland is also spending on military aid to Ukraine, with the total value of its military equipment donations reaching 1.3 billion euros last week.

"From the point of view of the future security order of Europe and Finland, it is a core issue that Russia's aggressive efforts can be dammed in Ukraine," defence minister Antti Hakkanen said in a statement to announce the latest donation. ($1 = 0.9255 euros)
_____

[Albany Rifles]

Newest NATO member Finland to spend 2.3% of GDP on defence



FILE PHOTO: Finland hosts first military exercise in the High North above the Arctic Circle as NATO member, in Rovajarvi

HELSINKI (Reuters) - NATO's newest member Finland plans to spend 2.3% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence next year, its defence ministry said on Monday.

In July, NATO's 31 member-nations agreed to spend a minimum of 2% of their GDP on defence. Previously the 2% target had been a goal to aim for over time and only seven allies met the target in 2022, according to NATO.

Finland joined the alliance in April, in a historic security policy U-turn in response to neighbouring Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

It said it planned to spend 6 billion euros ($6.48 billion), or 2.3% of its GDP, on defence in 2024, which is some 116 million euros less than the estimate for 2023.

Finland's defence spending has increased significantly in recent years, even before it became a NATO member, because it is replacing its ageing fleet of F/A-18 combat jets with F-35 fighter jets.

Finland is also spending on military aid to Ukraine, with the total value of its military equipment donations reaching 1.3 billion euros last week.

"From the point of view of the future security order of Europe and Finland, it is a core issue that Russia's aggressive efforts can be dammed in Ukraine," defence minister Antti Hakkanen said in a statement to announce the latest donation. ($1 = 0.9255 euros)
_____

Finland has always understood the neighborhood they live in.

Military preparedness is a lynchpin of the governance.

[Bigfella]

Newest NATO member Finland to spend 2.3% of GDP on defence



FILE PHOTO: Finland hosts first military exercise in the High North above the Arctic Circle as NATO member, in Rovajarvi

HELSINKI (Reuters) - NATO's newest member Finland plans to spend 2.3% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence next year, its defence ministry said on Monday.

In July, NATO's 31 member-nations agreed to spend a minimum of 2% of their GDP on defence. Previously the 2% target had been a goal to aim for over time and only seven allies met the target in 2022, according to NATO.

Finland joined the alliance in April, in a historic security policy U-turn in response to neighbouring Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

It said it planned to spend 6 billion euros ($6.48 billion), or 2.3% of its GDP, on defence in 2024, which is some 116 million euros less than the estimate for 2023.

Finland's defence spending has increased significantly in recent years, even before it became a NATO member, because it is replacing its ageing fleet of F/A-18 combat jets with F-35 fighter jets.

Finland is also spending on military aid to Ukraine, with the total value of its military equipment donations reaching 1.3 billion euros last week.

"From the point of view of the future security order of Europe and Finland, it is a core issue that Russia's aggressive efforts can be dammed in Ukraine," defence minister Antti Hakkanen said in a statement to announce the latest donation. ($1 = 0.9255 euros)
_____

Such a good addition to NATO. Not only do they bring their military assets, they bring an understanding of how to make your small country as painful to fuck with as possible. That sort of deep institutional knowledge might benefit a few smaller NATO nations with high exposure to possible threats from Russia.

[Monash]

Putin must be thrilled with how well his 'plan' to stop NATO expansion eastwards is working out for Russia!

Something about swamps and alligators comes to mind.

[Albany Rifles]

Such a good addition to NATO. Not only do they bring their military assets, they bring an understanding of how to make your small country as painful to fuck with as possible. That sort of deep institutional knowledge might benefit a few smaller NATO nations with high exposure to possible threats from Russia.

Been some recent pretty good movies from the Baltics & Finland telling the story of their fights in World War 2. I'll go dig into Prime & Netflix and post titles here.

[Amled]

Been some recent pretty good movies from the Baltics & Finland telling the story of their fights in World War 2. I'll go dig into Prime & Netflix and post titles here.

Please do so!✌️

[kato]

Both Finland and Sweden will participate with ships in the German-led Northern Coasts 2023 exercise starting end of this week. Finland as a NATO member with a ship already deployed to a NATO standing fleet, Sweden as a "bilateral" partner will supposedly send a couple corvettes - supposedly, as in they're not acknowledging such in any way in public. Unlike previous Northern Coasts participations btw.

The exercise will be held off the shore of Estonia and Latvia, as well as onshore (and in the air), and involves about 3200 soldies and 30 ships. Even Poland is sending a ship this time, which given the virtually non-existing state of their navy is somewhat surprising.

[Amled]

https://www.ft.com/content/d1afa268-...7-b8d716819417

Sweden to boost defence spending next year by almost 30%

Sweden is certainly serious about bringing its defense spending up to the 2% GDP NATO requirement.
A goal some of the more “laid back” old time NATO members has yet to achieve! Including; I’m sad to say, Denmark and Canada!

[TopHatter]

https://www.ft.com/content/d1afa268-...7-b8d716819417



Sweden is certainly serious about bringing its defense spending up to the 2% GDP NATO requirement.
A goal some of the more “laid back” old time NATO members has yet to achieve! Including; I’m sad to say, Denmark and Canada!

Ah but Denmark and Canada have also been handing over military equipment to to Ukraine by the shipload.

[Amled]

Ah but Denmark and Canada have also been handing over military equipment to to Ukraine by the shipload.

You’re certainly correct about that!
Just tonight the Danish Foreign Minister announced another financial; 5,8 billion DK, grant to Ukraine,
At the same time he made it clear that this time it was a purely financial grant. It seems that when it comes to military equipment, that cupboard is getting quite bare!
Who knows, maybe replenishing said cupboard would close the gap to the 2%?
That said, another politician a short time ago quipped that with the military and financial aid given to Ukraine, should count toward the 2%...needless to say that quip was ill received!!!

[TopHatter]

That said, another politician a short time ago quipped that with the military and financial aid given to Ukraine, should count toward the 2%...needless to say that quip was ill received!!!

Well...quite frankly, I think it should!


Although the Danish people haven't asked for my opinion on the matter...which I find quite peculiar

[Amled]

Well...quite frankly, I think it should!


Although the Danish people haven't asked for my opinion on the matter...which I find quite peculiar

There’s a way that the 2% GNP NATO aspiration might be reached.
The Parliament here in Denmark has already allocated funds to bring the country up to the 2%.
That the funds were originally planned to renew and update existing material; something that’s gone out the window, since much of the material has gone to Ukraine.
So now they will be used instead, to replace the donated material.
There does remain one little problem!
Much of the material that has to be replaced is high-end military equipment.
Not exactly a glut on the market these days!

[Amled]

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals...ato-membership

Turkey 'seriously upset' over Washington linking F-16 sales to Sweden’s NATO membership

Thought it was too good to be true…Erdogan caving in on admitting Sweden to NATO!
It seems that he maintains, that while he personally agreed, he also “piously” maintains that it’s up to the Turkish Parliament to agree!
As if they wouldn’t ask “How high?” if he said jump!
...and as for the F-16’s and the US?
While “everybody” apparently agrees that there is “absolutely” no linkage between the F-16’s ,and Turkish accept of Sweden in NATO!
It nonetheless does seem that things are reaching a stage of where neither side will sign off on a deal until the other side signs first!
Wonder who will blink first???