DISINFO: Every Finn and Swede have a target painted on their forhead
SUMMARY
By declaring their intention to join NATO, Finland and Sweden have drastically undermined their national security. [...] Every Finn and Swede should now understand that they have a target painted on their forehead.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation claim which appeared in the context of Finland and Sweden submitting formal requests for NATO membership.
Both Finland and Sweden have a long history of cooperation with NATO in a wide range of areas. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine both countries decided to join the alliance.
According to the Prime Minister of Sweden:
Sweden is best defended within NATO. [...] Unfortunately, we have no reason to believe that the trend (of Russia’s actions) will reverse in the foreseeable future.
According to both the President and Prime Minister of Finland:
NATO membership would strengthen Finland’s security. As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance. Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay.
There is no evidence to suggest that joining NATO would increase insecurity of Finnish and Swedish citizens.
In both Finland and Sweden there is overwhelmingly broad-based support across the political landscape which has also been manifested in the process in the parliaments: in Finland with 188 deputies voting for and only 8 against NATO membership application. In Sweden, among it's eight parties in parliament, only two smaller left-leaning parties oppose the application for membership.
See related disinformation claims, alleging that Sweden and Finland are being dragged into NATO and forced to wage a war against Russia, Finns, Swedes unlikely to support NATO membership because well-being will decline, Most Finns are against NATO membership; neutrality is key to security.