Sweden-Russia Clash Brewing Over Potential NATO MembershipBy Brandon Turbeville Sweden and Russia are now engaged in a war of words regarding Swedens plan to formerly join NATO, a plan that the Russians clearly oppose. On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, stated that Swedish membership in NATO would have politico-military and foreign policy consequences, and would require retaliatory measures from Russia. Defense and national security strategy is up to each sovereign state to decide. However, we still consider Swedens policy of non-participation in military blocs to be an important factor for the stability of northern Europe, she added. It has been reported in a number of different media outlets over the last year that Sweden has been considering membership in NATO. Back in June, 2015, the Russian Ambassador to Sweden, Viktor Tartarinstev, stated that if Sweden decided to join NATO, it may provoke a military response from Russia. He stated, I dont think it will become relevant in the near future, even though there has been a certain swing in public opinion. But if it happens there will be counter measures. Putin pointed out that there will be consequences, that Russia will have to resort to a response of a military kind and reorientate our troops and missiles. The country that joins NATO needs to be aware of the risks it is exposing itself to. Tartarinstev did point out that Sweden was not a target for Russian military forces. Still, his statement was clearly a military warning to the prospective NATO member. Interestingly enough, it was Zakharovas words that attracted the most attention from Sweden, at least publicly. On Friday, the Swedish Foreign Ministry called Tartarinstev in to elaborate and explain Zakharovas recent statements in regards to Swedens potential membership in NATO. The Swedish government has been acting increasingly hostile towards Russia over recent months, expressing greater and greater solidarity with Western nations who are intent on destroying three of Russias allies and/or neighbors. In April, 2015, defense ministers from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland all joined together to express solidarity against Russian aggression in a joint statement. Russias leaders have shown that they are prepared to make practical and effective use of military means in order to reach their political goals, even when this involves violating principles of international law, Reuters quotes the statement as reading. Sweden has been cooperating with NATO openly since at least 1994 when it joined NATOs Partnership For Peace Program. The PFPPs stated purpose is to provide for greater trust between NATO and other countries in Europe. Even in terms of direct military cooperation, Sweden has committed forces alongside NATOs military personnel. Sweden has had its own military deployed with International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan since 2006. In 2011, Sweden joined NATOs mission in Libya. Image Credit Brandon Turbeville article archive here is an author out of Florence, South Carolina. He has a Bachelors Degree from Francis Marion University and is the author of six books, Codex Alimentarius The End of Health Freedom, 7 Real Conspiracies, Five Sense Solutions and Dispatches From a Dissident, volume 1 and volume 2, and The Road to Damascus: The Anglo-American Assault on Syria. Turbeville has published over 500 articles dealing on a wide variety of subjects including health, economics, government corruption, and civil liberties. Brandon Turbevilles podcast Truth on The Tracks can be found every Monday night 9 pm EST at UCYTV. He is available for radio and TV interviews. Please contact activistpost (at) gmail.com. I sure hope Sweden doesnt join NATO, but Russia and Sweden hasnt gotten along for 1000 years, so this is nothing new. 