Russia has said there will be “no more talk of a nuclear–free Baltic” if Sweden and Finland join NATO.
Such a development would more than double the length of the military alliance’s land borders with Russia, Moscow added. Finland has an 810-mile border with its neighbour.
Sweden and Finland are reviewing their security arrangements following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Polls in both countries have shown support for joining NATO.
But the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, said Moscow would respond, were that to happen.
“There can be no more talk of any nuclear-free status for the Baltic – the balance must be restored,” he said.
“Until today, Russia has not taken such measures and was not going to.”
Referring to land borders, Mr Medvedev said: “Naturally (they) will have to be strengthened.”
He added that Russia would “seriously strengthen the grouping of ground forces and air defence (and) deploy significant naval forces in the Gulf of Finland”.
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