Sweden, Finland get Britain security pledge for Nato bid

Bloomberg

Sweden and Finland are winning more pledges of help in case Russia attacks them as the Nordic nations are on the path to becoming members of the Nato defense bloc.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson signed a security agreement with Sweden and plans another with Finland later in the day, as the pair is moving closer to filing membership applications to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato).
The deals, in which the countries promise to assist one another if attacked, come after similar assurances from the US and Germany about support in an insecure period between applying for Nato entry and unlocking its collective security guarantees by gaining full membership. Russia has repeatedly warned Finland and Sweden with military consequences, it they join Nato.
“This is important whatever security policy choice we will make,” Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said at a joint press conference with Johnson in Harpsund, southwest of Stockholm.
“We are exploring all possible options and Nato is one of them that are on the table, and during this process we have therefore had discussions with several countries on how they see this ‘grey period’.”
The two Nordic countries began to seriously consider joining the alliance after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and are expected to make a decision to file applications in coming days.
Johnson appeared reluctant to detail what the UK would send in the event Sweden is attacked, and said it would depend on Sweden’s request.
“What we’re saying today is that upon request from the other party, we would come to the other party’s assistance,” Johnson said.