Ending a decades-long policy of neutrality, Sweden and Finland have decided to join NATO in response to Vladimir Putin's botched invasion of Ukraine. On this episode of Haaretz Weekend, our correspondent in Stockholm, David Stavrou, explains why this decision is an earthquake for the two Scandinavian countries, and veteran national security analyst Amir Oren discusses the global implications it will have, ranging from Washington and Moscow to Israel and the Middle East. They also tell host Amir Tibon how Putin could punish the two countries in the interim period until they are accepted to NATO, and what it would take to remove Turkish President Erdogan's opposition to their application. 

Ending a decades-long policy of neutrality, Sweden and Finland have decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/biden-s-resolve-putin-s-calamity-nato-will-be-stronger-with-finland-and-sweden-1.10807679" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/biden-s-resolve-putin-s-calamity-nato-will-be-stronger-with-finland-and-sweden-1.10807679">join NATO</a> in response to Vladimir Putin's botched invasion of Ukraine. On this episode of Haaretz Weekend, our correspondent in Stockholm, <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/.premium.MAGAZINE-fear-won-in-sweden-s-battle-between-neutrality-and-the-russian-threat-1.10803134" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/.premium.MAGAZINE-fear-won-in-sweden-s-battle-between-neutrality-and-the-russian-threat-1.10803134">David Stavrou</a>, explains why this decision is an earthquake for the two Scandinavian countries, and veteran national security analyst <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.HIGHLIGHT-iran-nuclear-weapons-profit-from-it-israel-vienna-1.10528237" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.HIGHLIGHT-iran-nuclear-weapons-profit-from-it-israel-vienna-1.10528237">Amir Oren</a> discusses the global implications it will have, ranging from Washington and Moscow to Israel and the Middle East. They also tell host Amir Tibon how Putin could punish the two countries in the interim period until they are accepted to NATO, and what it would take to remove Turkish President Erdogan's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/.premium-finland-and-sweden-knock-on-nato-s-door-but-erdogan-is-the-club-s-bouncer-1.10801085" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/.premium-finland-and-sweden-knock-on-nato-s-door-but-erdogan-is-the-club-s-bouncer-1.10801085">opposition</a>&nbsp;to their application.&nbsp;

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – a weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – a weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

Your audio guide to Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World.

Haaretz Podcast

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – the Haaretz weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer. 

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – the Haaretz weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

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