The Social Democrats, who are currently in power in Sweden, began a debate in their ranks on Monday over the possibility of bringing their country to NATO soon.
After more than 200 years of neutrality, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could convince the Swedes as well as their Finnish neighbors to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Although the Swedish Prime Minister, Magdalena Andersson, has recently confirmed that she wants to maintain the neutrality of her country – which has not been involved in any war since 1814 – since the end of March, she has now proved that she no longer neglected joining NATO.
Historically opposed to joining any military alliance, the Swedish Social Democratic Party reaffirmed a motion for this effect at its last congress in light of events in Ukraine and above all, five months before the election where the security of country will be the main theme.
The debate announced on Monday, open to all party members, will be a broader discussion than the question of yes or no to NATO membership , said in a press release the number 2 of the Social Democrats, Tobias Baudin. This security policy dialogue should be completed before the summer, according to him.
In the ranks of the right-wing opposition, the question is, it seems, fixed. Conservative Ulf Kristersson, leader of the right -wing opposition, has announced his intention to submit an application for membership if he wins a majority in Parliament in September.
The extreme right Sweden Democrats (SD), the third party in the 2018 election, also opened up to the idea of membership, after opposing it.
The possibility of early NATO membership is also on the agenda with Finland, which shares a border with Russia and has also maintained a neutral status for decades. Unimaginable a few months ago, the idea of joining NATO had come a long way in recent weeks in these two countries.
Support for NATO membership almost doubled after the invasion of Ukraine, jumping to almost 50% in Sweden and 60% in Finland. According to US officials quoted in Hours from London, Sweden and Finland will be ready to join the Alliance in the summer.
These officials said the two northern European countries joined NATO last week. a topic of conversation covered in many sessions between Atlantic Alliance foreign ministers, talks in which Sweden and Finland participated, the British added daily.
Let us remember that at the end of February, Finland decided historic to get involved in a conflict in Europe by delivering arms stocks to Ukraine.
Russia made a big strategic mistake according to US officials interviewed by the British newspaper. By attempting to weaken the Alliance’s influence in Europe by attacking Ukraine, Moscow will only succeed in throwing Finland and Sweden into the arms of NATO.
NATO will not bring stability to Europe, the Kremlin protested
In Moscow, Vladimir Putin’s government declared that Sweden and Finland’s entry into the NATO ranks would not bring more stability to Europe.
We have repeatedly said that the alliance remains a confrontational tool and its future expansion will not bring stability to the European continent, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
Source: Radio-Canada
