People form groups with a goal in mind. Goals are group specific. Countries could band together and form unions like labor unions, or even groups to protect them from a common rival or enemy. Some European countries and the United States formed NATO on April 4, 1947 to ensure security in the North Atlantic area through military and defense means. However, not all members joined the group. This article seeks to examine why Sweden and Finland did not join the treaty while they were part of the North Atlantic area and faced some threat of attack. Vaahtoranta and Forsberg (2000, p.3) state that since the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s, Finland and Sweden have changed their foreign, national security and defense policies. This is to respond to changes in their environment. Keep (1995, p.6) states that the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and that this led to the elimination of the military threat and also the threat to their national independence. The rapid decline of the Cold War and the growing attractiveness of European integration have meant that the previous desire of Finland and Sweden to join NATO has been replaced by that of working together with European and other transatlantic partners to respond to the security challenges facing them they have to face. Finland and Sweden joined the European Union (EU) in 1995. Sjursen (1998, p.8) states that Sweden and Finland became members of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Grieco (1995, p.21) states that the CFSP was established within the framework of the Maastricht Treaty of 1991-1992 and the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) established in 1999-2000. Involvement in policy making allowed them to shape the security policies adopted across Europe. Additionally, both nations come together… halfway through the document… over wartime military cooperation with the West during the Cold War, and why they withered over time. Diss. King's College London (University of London): p.1-9Tertrais, B., 2004, "The Changing Nature of Military Alliances." Washington Quarterly 27.2: 133-150.Rieker, P., 2004, “The Europeanization of Nordic Security The European Union and the Changing Security Identities of the Nordic States.” Cooperation and conflict: p.369-392.Ojanen, H., 2000, Participation and influence: Finland, Sweden and the post-Amsterdam development of the CFSP. Institute for Security Studies. Western European Union, p.5-6Lane, AT, 1997, “The Baltic States, NATO and Russian Enlargement.” Journal of Baltic Studies: p.295-308. Bjereld, U. and Ekengren, A., 1999 “Dimensions of Foreign Policy: A Comparison of the United States and Sweden.” International Studies Quarterly: p.503-518.