The United Kingdom summoned the Nordic and Baltic countries to strengthen European defense and prevent further Russian aggression

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, will receive this week the leaders of several Nordic and Baltic countries with the intention of reinforcing European defense so that no other country “falls victim” to the aggression of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin.

Johnson will host a Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) summit in London on Monday, where he will urge leaders to work together to ensure that “no actor” or “evil government” can fundamentally compromise European security “again.”

“European security has been shaken by Russia’s attack on Ukraine and, together with our partners, we will take steps to ensure that we come out stronger and more united than before,” the British president said in a statement issued by Downing Street.

For Johnson, ensuring resistance to Putin’s threats “must go beyond” a military position.” For this reason, the British prime minister has maintained that in collaboration with the “partners of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea”, it must be ensured that the Kremlin has no influence or impact on energy, the economy or “values”.

The JEF, to which countries such as Sweden, Finland or Norway belong, has been facing in recent weeks a series of threats from the Kremlin, which threatens “political-military repercussions” if any of these countries decide to join the Atlantic Alliance.

THE UNITED STATES WILL STRENGTHEN COOPERATION

The President of the United States, Joe Biden, held a meeting with the President of Finland, Sauli Niinisto, on March 5, in which they discussed reinforcing the bilateral defense alliance between the two countries after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Both leaders discussed how to ensure “strong defense and deterrence” in the northern European region due to Russia’s threats to Finland and Sweden with “political-military repercussions” if they join NATO.

The US president did not refer directly to Finland’s entry into the Atlantic Alliance, but promised his counterpart to start a process that strengthens security cooperation between the United States and Finland, which will be carried out “in close consultation”. with other Nordic countries.

“Finland is a critical partner of the United States, a strong defense partner as well, an ally of NATO, especially in strengthening the security of the Baltic Sea area,” Biden said at a press conference after his meeting with the president.