NATO entry of Finland, Sweden will lead to security dilemma, loss of autonomy for Europe

FINLAND and Sweden are set to apply for membership in NATO, their prime ministers said on Sunday. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a news conference on Sunday that he is "confident" that NATO will accept Finland and Sweden's applications to join the alliance despite Turkey's reservations over their membership. NATO's deputy secretary general said on Sunday he was confident Turkey's concerns could be addressed.

"It is a high probability that Finland and Sweden will gain membership in the near future. This is because within this US-led military organization, Washington plays a decisive role. The views of other member states such as Turkey are secondary," Wang Shuo, a Beijing Foreign Studies University professor, told the Global Times.