Sweden decided to apply for NATO membership so as not to be ‘alone’

Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said in a statement today that Sweden will apply for official NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) membership, emphasizing that this means “a new era” for the Scandinavian country. Sweden’s decision came a day after Finland formalized its intention to join the military alliance.

“Sweden will be alone in a very vulnerable position outside of NATO,” he said. Anderson. ANDm press release andthere Announced “The government has decided to notify NATO of Sweden’s willingness to join the alliance.” We have left behind an era to enter a new era,” he said.

Swedish movement to integrate nato It stems from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Today, Russia’s war in Ukraine has entered its 82nd day.

The announcement was made by Andersson in conjunction with opposition leader Ulf Kristersson. According to the Hallands Nyheter newspaper Kristersson, “We have many big problems that we think differently. But together we will take responsibility for the process of getting Sweden into NATO.” said. “The fact that we are here together is a sign of strength for Sweden,” added the Prime Minister.

According to Andersson, Sweden’s ambassador to NATO will soon convey that he wishes to join the country’s defense alliance. He estimates that this should happen by Wednesday (18) and that the application for membership can be submitted jointly with Finland.

“We hope [a adesão] With the necessary approval of the 30 members of the Alliance, it won’t take more than a year,” Andersson said. “The best thing for the Swedish and Swedish people is to join NATO.”

Previously, Sweden held a debate in its Parliament for discussions on security policy. The announcement came shortly after almost all parties in the Swedish Parliament expressed their support for the application for membership. The Social Democratic Party, short for Andersson, had long since abandoned opposition to 73 years of NATO membership.

Sweden’s decision should put an end to the country’s nearly 200 years of military neutrality. The sense of vulnerability increased in Sweden and Finland after the occupation of Ukraine by Russian troops. In addition, Moscow’s threat to deploy nuclear weapons in the Baltic region if Finland and Sweden join NATO made things worse.

In recent years Sweden has felt threatened by several airspace violations reported by Russian military aircraft. In 2014, a Russian submarine was spotted in the Stockholm archipelago. After these episodes, the Swedish army returned to occupy the strategic island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea.

Putin’s “Answer”

Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier today that there would be an “answer” if Finland and Sweden join NATO. “Expansion of military infrastructure to this region will certainly trigger our response,” Putin said, according to the Russian news agency Tass. Said. “Let’s analyze what will happen [a resposta] based on the threats that will be created for us.”

But Putin said Russia “has no problem” with Finland and Sweden and will not pose a “direct threat”.

For the Russian president, NATO expansion is artificial, it goes beyond its geographical purpose. In Putin’s assessment, the military alliance may not have the best effect on other regions.

Contention

In Finland, the country’s prime minister, Sanna Marin, gave a presentation to Parliament today on the NATO membership report. “If parliament approves the results of the report, the government is equipped to take the necessary decisions to quickly start accession negotiations,” he said. said. A general meeting will be held today on the subject.

Russia viewed Finland’s possible entry into NATO as a threat as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukrainian territory. The two countries share a border that is approximately 1,300 kilometers long.

Russia is threatening

In his speech, the Finnish prime minister told the country’s parliament that “fundamental changes are occurring in our security environment” when addressing NATO membership.

Marin said, “The claim that Russia is the target of external threats is unfounded. Russia is the only country that threatens the security of Europe and is openly waging a war of aggression.”

According to him, “every country has the right to make its own decisions about its foreign and security policy.” “No other actor can violate this right. Russia’s demands mean that Russia has the right to determine its own sphere of influence.”

As a member of the military alliance, Marin told lawmakers that “Finland will be part of NATO’s collective defense and accompanying security guarantees.” “If Finland is attacked, we will get help. Conversely, if another NATO country is attacked, we will help.”

Russia “will not tolerate”

In a statement distributed by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Deputy Minister Sergey Riabkov said that Finland and Sweden “should have no illusions that we will simply tolerate this”, referring to the countries’ possible accession to NATO.

In other words, the overall level of military tension will increase and there will be less predictability in this area. It’s a shame to sacrifice common sense to some fanciful idea of ​​what should be done in the current situation,” he added, adding that the move was “another serious mistake with far-reaching consequences”.

(with DW, AFP and RFI)