US General: Finland and Sweden in NATO may not need more American boats in the field

A US general appointed to the post of European command told senators that Finland and Sweden’s efforts to join NATO may not require the addition of additional US ground forces in both countries, but that military training and seasonal rotation of US troops will increase.

Christopher Cavoli, who currently serves as the commander of the US Army in Europe and Africa, said the increased military focus will continue in Eastern Europe, where countries are more concerned about Russia’s potential aggression and the spread of any war in Ukraine.

For him, the entry of traditionally neutral Sweden and Finland into NATO would be beneficial, at least because it means “everything”. [Baltic] The sea will form a completely different geometry in the area, except for a few kilometers ”and St. It will be the coast of NATO countries that will put tremendous pressure on Russia on the way out of St. Petersburg. Petersburg and Kaliningrad. ”

Cavoli commended Finland for its historic victories over the Soviet Union in the 1939 Winter War, while boasting that Russia would likely have to deploy its forces once the country joined NATO. Air Force MagazineSaying that the Finnish border used to be a “power-saving theatre” [Russia] because they thought their relationship with Finland allowed them. [deploy fewer troops to the border there]”.

“It allowed Russia to concentrate its ground forces in other areas. Now this opportunity will be missed for Russia,” he said.

“Guesthouse for terrorist organizations” – Turkey opposes Sweden and Finland joining NATO https://t.co/MZ9Ryuj85Q

– Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) May 15, 2022

“The center of gravity of NATO forces has shifted to the east,” Cavoli said at the nomination session to the Senate Armed Forces Committee. He added that depending on the outcome of the conflict, we may have to continue for a while.

Cavoli was asked about the presence in Europe of US troops, which had increased from 80,000 to 102,000 in preparation for the invasion of Russia, but said the increase had nothing to do with the recent move by Finland and Sweden to join NATO.

In fact, the American official stressed that the Finnish armed forces are “very well equipped, very well trained, very fast”. [expandable], [and] drills are very frequent”, despite the country’s small population of only five and a half million, and about twice the population, Sweden is an advantage, at least because it carries an “unsinkable aircraft carrier” on the table. . Shaped like the island of Gotland.

But some in the West warn that the entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO could increase the likelihood of a disastrous future war, for specific reasons why Cavoli wanted them to join the alliance.

“Does it make sense for NATO to allow them? Are we really in danger of cornering Putin here as we expand and expand to its borders? ” Brexit leader Nigel Farage asked recently.

“For many years I have been extremely critical of NATO enlargement”, Briton added, adding that he “always thought it was a wake-up call” to President Vladimir Putin and would only “help NATO strengthen its local position”. paranoia.” to his people.

In any case, attempts to expand NATO at the expense of Finland and Sweden may prove futile upon arrival as one of NATO’s most unfit members is opposed to it.

Turkey, a NATO member led by influential Islamist Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has a good reputation despite continuing to occupy a large part of Cyprus. frequent violations While Greece’s airspace and territorial waters promised to veto the membership of Finland and Greece in the current situation, Erdoğan accused these two countries of being “guesthouses of terrorist organizations”.

Negotiations began on Wednesday to silence the Turkish regime, which complains that Scandinavian countries are providing asylum to their political opponents, placing an arms embargo on them and showing insufficient hostility to groups like the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Brexit Farage warns Finland, Sweden of ‘mistake’ to join NATO https://t.co/hPRnVNx6yq

– Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) 18 May 2022

The Associated Press contributed to this report.