Russia forms new combined arms army  as part of Northern Fleet - ISW 

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports the information. 

It is noyed, that the Russian  MoD claimed that the existing 14th Army Corps of the Northern Fleet would be transformed into a new combined arms army with subordinate motorized rifle brigades, divisions, and regiments.

"Russian army corps before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine existed only within fleets and largely performed the same functions as combined arms armies," the statement said.

That is why the announcement of the creation of a new joint military army is likely timed shortly before the NATO summit to demonstrate Russia's military response to Finland's and possibly Sweden's accession to the Alliance.

"The promotion of the 14th Army Corps to a combined arms army level will not by itself increase Russian combat capacity, and it is unclear where the Russian military leadership could find the personnel and equipment that would be needed for the new organization to generate a material difference, the Institute added.

Sweden's entry into NATO

Sweden's request to join NATO faced unexpected objections from Turkey when Finland and Sweden applied for membership in May 2022.

Finland officially became the 31st member of NATO on April 4, 2023.

However, Hungary and Turkey did not ratify Sweden's application. Turkey accuses Sweden of "supporting terrorism" and claims that Stockholm is harboring individuals Turkey considers terrorists.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed hope in mid-March for Turkey to quickly ratify the protocol for Sweden's NATO accession after the elections in May. President Erdogan confirmed that Turkey will revisit the discussion on Sweden's NATO membership in June.

Following Finland's NATO accession, President Biden urged Turkey and Hungary to ratify Sweden's application.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Björström, along with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Swedish Defense Minister Jonsson, remain hopeful that Sweden will join NATO before the alliance summit in July.

On May 30, President Biden discussed Sweden's NATO membership with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He mentioned that the ratification issue would be addressed at the annual summit in Vilnius.

On June 2, Joe Biden announced that Sweden would join NATO in the near future. Subsequently, Thomas Nilsson, the Director of Military Intelligence and Security in Sweden, reported that Russia is attempting to hinder Sweden's NATO accession.

In July, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that Turkey "will not back down" from its position against Sweden's accession to NATO until all of its "demands" are met.