[Goose]

Having Sweden and Finland means that NATO members control access to both the Black and Baltic seas.

Denmark has controlled access to the Baltic Sea for about 300 years, so I think NATO has had that capability for a while. During the cold war, Denmark could completely shut down access to the Baltic Sea (in or out) with mines in under 20 minutes. They practiced it regularly. This is above and beyond the fixed fortifications and the Danish Navy forces afloat.

There is no question that they bring more to the table than the average NATO member.  If you were picking a team, Sweden might be picked fourth after the US, UK, and France, and before Germany.

Certainly true today. Germany has no business being where it is on this list. Really sad state of affairs. One should also give a shout out to Italy for the efforts the Italian Navy has made in the Mediterranean Sea after the 6th fleet basically ceased to exist. (Full disclosure. They are a customer).

Finland is a slightly less straightforward case, because of the long border with Russia, but they are less vulnerable than the Baltics, and having a noose 60 miles wide between Tallinn and Helsinki is a big deal.

It is, because it plugs the "other end" of the Baltic. However, due to the influence of air power that area would be a "no go" for everything but submarines anyway. Aircraft/missiles from Poland and the Baltics from NATO and Russia proper/Kaliningrad on the other side make a crowded sky. This area makes the Black Sea look like the Pacific. However, having Gotland plus the Finnish mainland helps a lot.

Also, Sweden and Finland are going to be less troublemaking than, say, Hungary or Turkey.

BC

For sure, although Sweden will bring some challenges. They have a fairly large military industrial complex that receives lots of direct state support. This will almost certainly continue and be a source of some strife. They also currently operate under a different set of "ITARS" that will require some jawboning to work out.

[Goose]

Having Sweden and Finland means that NATO members control access to both the Black and Baltic seas.

Denmark has controlled access to the Baltic Sea for about 300 years, so I think NATO has had that capability for a while. During the cold war, Denmark could completely shut down access to the Baltic Sea (in or out) with mines in under 20 minutes. They practiced it regularly. This is above and beyond the fixed fortifications and the Danish Navy forces afloat.

There is no question that they bring more to the table than the average NATO member.  If you were picking a team, Sweden might be picked fourth after the US, UK, and France, and before Germany.

Certainly true today. Germany has no business being where it is on this list. Really sad state of affairs. One should also give a shout out to Italy for the efforts the Italian Navy has made in the Mediterranean Sea after the 6th fleet basically ceased to exist. (Full disclosure. They are a customer).

Finland is a slightly less straightforward case, because of the long border with Russia, but they are less vulnerable than the Baltics, and having a noose 60 miles wide between Tallinn and Helsinki is a big deal.

It is, because it plugs the "other end" of the Baltic. However, due to the influence of air power that area would be a "no go" for everything but submarines anyway. Aircraft/missiles from Poland and the Baltics from NATO and Russia proper/Kaliningrad on the other side make a crowded sky. This area makes the Black Sea look like the Pacific. However, having Gotland plus the Finnish mainland helps a lot.

Also, Sweden and Finland are going to be less troublemaking than, say, Hungary or Turkey.

BC

For sure, although Sweden will bring some challenges. They have a fairly large military industrial complex that receives lots of direct state support. This will almost certainly continue and be a source of some strife. They also currently operate under a different set of "ITARS" that will require some jawboning to work out.