Finland and Sweden have dismissed warnings of “serious military-political consequences” from neighboring Russia if they were to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Both countries are part of the European Union but not NATO. However, they cooperate closely with the bloc and allow, among other things, for the alliance’s troops to exercise on their soil. While neither had previously expressed a strong interest in joining NATO, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sparked speculation that the two countries are now weighing up their options in regards to joining the alliance to defend against potential Russian aggression. However, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia’s foreign minister, on Friday warned that both countries would face “serious military and political repercussions” if they were to do so. “Finland and Sweden should not base their security on damaging the security of other countries and their accession to NATO can have detrimental consequences and face some military and political consequences,” …