Sweden has officially decided to join NATO, with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson announcing the decision on May 16.
“We are leaving one era and entering another. We are seeking membership in the Alliance,” she said during a press conference yesterday.
Sweden’s Ambassador to NATO will submit the membership bid in the coming days, with Stockholm and Helsinki looking to apply together.
Andersson also noted that while Sweden will be in a vulnerable position during the application process, she does not see a direct military threat from Russia at the moment.
Ulf Kristersson, the leader of the Moderates, the second biggest party in Sweden, also attended the press conference.
“We have many big questions ahead of us. However, we will jointly launch the process of Sweden’s membership in NATO,” he said. “This is a historic decision. It is not about party politics. We are taking joint responsibility for the country’s security policy interests.”
Sweden’s decision to join NATO is historic as Stockholm has been maintaining the principle of neutrality for hundreds of years. The situation changed after Russia launched an all-out war in Ukraine and issued extensive ultimatums and threats to NATO regarding its post-Soviet expansion policy.
Russia has already reacted to Stockholm and Helsinki’s decision to join the Alliance, promising a nuclear build-up in the Baltics while dubbing their decisions a mistake.
“The situation, of course, is changing radically in light of what is happening,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Monday, threatening that the “mistake” will have “far-reaching consequences. “They should have no illusions that we will simply put up with it. The general level of military tension will increase, and predictability in this area will become less. It is a pity that common sense is being sacrificed for some phantom ideas about what should be done in the current situation.”
The U.S. has pledged full support for Sweden and Finland’s aspirations, with Turkey being the only NATO member state to express reservations.
