IRIA News

Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson announced on May 16 that Sweden intends to formally apply to join the NATO alliance, all set to submit a joint bid for NATO membership with its neighbor Finland.

The move will bring an end to a national policy of non-alignment and two centuries of military neutrality.

Swedish Prime Minister Andersson said in a speech on May 15 that “Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is not only illegal and indefensible, it also undermines the European security order that Sweden builds its security on.”

The ruling Social Democrat party gathered on Sunday in favor of NATO membership, while on May 12, Sweden’s neighboring country, Finland’s president, and the prime minister announced that they seek to rapidly join the NATO alliance.

Before announcing her country’s decision to apply for NATO membership, the Swedish prime minister warned that “Should Sweden be the only country in the Baltic Sea region that was not a member of NATO, we would be in a very vulnerable position. We can’t rule out that Russia would then increase pressure on Sweden.”

Soon after Sweden announced its decision, NATO Secretary General posted on his Twitter that “I welcome her government’s decision to apply for NATO membership. Sweden is one of our closest partners and membership would strengthen the security of the Euro-Atlantic area and Sweden at a critical time.”

President of the European Council Charles Michel wrote: “With Sweden’s application to join NATO alongside its strategic partner Finland, our security becomes even stronger. I commend Sweden and the Swedish prime minister on their decision for the benefit of collective security and defense. EU contribution to NATO deterrence is increasingly invaluable.”

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde called it a “historic day for Sweden” while several European countries and NATO members welcomed the announcements made by Sweden and Finland to apply for NATO membership.

The Swedish government’s intent is to apply for NATO-membership. A historic day for Sweden. With a broad support from political parties in the parliament, the conclusion is that Sweden will stand stronger together with allies in NATO. pic.twitter.com/LsmdaXiy2U

— Ann Linde (@AnnLinde) May 16, 2022

U.S. Department of State also said that the United States supports “NATO’s Open Door policy”, while Secretary of State Blinken earlier said that “Both countries are close and valued defense partners of NATO and the United States. And the United States would strongly support a NATO application by either Sweden or Finland.”

The founding member of the NATO alliance, the United Kingdom also released an official statement saying that “The UK strongly supports applications for NATO membership from Finland and Sweden. They should be integrated into the Alliance as soon as possible; their accession will strengthen the collective security of Europe.”

The statement further added that the UK seeks to work closely with Sweden and Finland “as new NATO Allies” and is ready to provide them with “every assistance during the accession process.” Last week on May 11, the UK also signed a security pact with Sweden and Finland to strengthen defense ties and vowed to provide military assistance to either country if it is requested in case of an external attack.

The foreign ministers of the UK, Romania, Italy, North Macedonia, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, as well as several other high-ranking European officials welcomed Sweden’s decision.

Separately on May 16, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson held an important meeting with U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Susan Collins, Senator John Cornyn, and Senator John Barrasso in Stockholm.

During the meeting, the U.S. and Swedish officials discussed “Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, trans-Atlantic cooperation, and Sweden’s security policy choices,” the Swedish prime minister’s office said.

The U.S. lawmakers were in Sweden during the time when diplomats from all 30 NATO member states met in Berlin to discuss the increase of support to Ukraine and moves by Sweden and Finland to join the NATO alliance amid threats from Russia.