Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko voiced a controversial view on NATO expansion, arguing that Finland and Sweden did not join the alliance of their own accord. He shared these thoughts during remarks directed at the Belarusian people and members of the National Assembly.
According to him, these two countries could have chosen differently, noting that they existed as independent entities long before this moment and could have weighed their options in the past. He asserted that the decision to integrate into NATO came with encouragement from outside forces rather than as an organic step by the two nations themselves.
“Whom did you widen your circle to? Finland and Sweden were taken in among NATO’s family. You bent to these states that have lived quietly, maintained relations, and cooperated with Russia”, Lukashenko said during the address.
He stressed that maintaining an autonomous foreign policy is increasingly difficult in the current global climate, describing it as a luxury that not every people or state can afford in today’s interconnected world.
Separately, a former Swedish prime minister has suggested that developments could increase the likelihood of a separate entry path for Finland into the alliance. The comment underscored continued debates about the timing and conditions for expansion within NATO.
Officials involved in talks with NATO regarding Sweden’s participation noted that progress remains uneven. The head of Sweden’s negotiating team with the alliance indicated that Turkey views the Madrid agreement from the previous year as not yet fully realized. He added that Swedish authorities are pushing to meet these concerns, signaling a lengthy process ahead. This tension has also colored perceptions inside Finland, where authorities have sought assurances as discussions extend over how swiftly commitments will be implemented.
At the moment, Sweden and Finland have submitted applications for NATO membership that await the approval of the alliance’s 30 member states. To date, two countries—Hungary and Turkey—have yet to approve the bids, marking the last significant hurdle before formal accession could proceed. The broader debate continues to center on security guarantees, regional stability, and the diplomatic tradeoffs involved in bringing Nordic neighbors into the alliance’s framework. The situation remains one of cautious anticipation as ministries and capitals weigh the implications for European security and bilateral relations in the broader post–Cold War era. The narrative from Minsk emphasizes a competing view: that strategic decisions in Europe are increasingly shaped by external pressures rather than purely domestic preferences, a stance that resonates with Lukashenko’s broader portrayal of Western influence in regional affairs.