Okay team, let's take a look at a brain-dead talking point that's been making the rounds lately. Namely, that regardless of the outcome of the war in Ukraine that Russia's strategic position will worsen due to the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO.

This assumes that Sweden and Finland will actually, y'know, join NATO. Because the Turks are not happy about these most recent developments.

This also assumes that Sweden and Finland will participate fully in NATO and not have a large number of caveats to their membership - the Russians seem to have signaled they have no problem if they join on the model of Norway, which heavily limits foreign basing.

Well let's look at the numbers. Sweden first.

The Swedish Army is capable of forming a grand total of two brigades right now. This is the equivalent of Latvia or Estonia and is insufficient to even secure the country in the event of a war, let along attack anyone.

Sweden has 71 fighters, all older Saab 39 Gripens.

Finland has 55 fighters (F-18s), with 64 new F-35s on order to replace them.

None of this is particularly spectacular or a large threat to the Russians.