After two centuries of neutrality, military non-alignment and two years of negotiations, Sweden officially became Nato’s 32nd member on Thursday, a major step for the country that had until then been careful not to provoke Russia’s ire.
After lengthy negotiations, the Scandinavian country becomes Nato’s 32nd member
After two centuries of neutrality, military non-alignment and two years of negotiations, Sweden officially became Nato’s 32nd member on Thursday, a major step for the country that had until then been careful not to provoke Russia’s ire.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson during a visit to Washington met the head of US diplomacy Antony Blinken to officially hand over the ratification documents. The agreement was hard won after lengthy negotiations with certain members of the alliance.
On Monday, the Swedish flag is set to be raised in front of Nato’s Brussels headquarters.
Last week, Russia promised to take “countermeasures” in response to Stockholm’s accession, which will depend on “the conditions and extent of Sweden’s integration into Nato.”
Sweden’s accession, following that of Finland last year, means that all the countries bordering the Baltic Sea, with the exception of Russia, are now members of the Atlantic alliance.
Sweden and Finland, although militarily close to the United States through their membership of the European Union, have historically preferred to remain outside the alliance, which was formed during the Cold War against the Soviet Union.
Although Sweden contributes to international peacekeeping forces, it has not experienced war since a conflict with Norway in 1814.
Helsinki and Stockholm announced their bid to join Nato in 2022 at the same time, in reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Finland secured its accession to the alliance last April, but Sweden’s membership process was disrupted by negotiations with Turkey, which accused the Nordic country of leniency towards Kurdish militants who have taken refuge on its soil, some of whom Ankara considers to be terrorists.
Sweden also had to deal with the reluctance of the Hungarian prime minister. Viktor Orban had agreed in principle for a long time, but before finalising the process, he demanded “respect” from Stockholm, after years of “denigrating” his policies.
At the end of February, the Hungarian parliament finally ratified Sweden’s accession to Nato.
