After years of maintaining neutrality since the end of the second World War, Sweden has officially become the 32nd member of NATO – the transatlantic military alliance. This landmark move has been prompted due to growing fears over Russia’s belligerence, particularly after its attack on Ukraine.
The official ceremony, attended by Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, witnessed Sweden’s official induction into the alliance. Blinken declared this event as a significant milestone not only for Sweden and the alliance but also for the transatlantic relationship. He further added that NATO was now larger and stronger than it had ever been.
Kristersson is scheduled to call on the White House later on, subsequently attending as a special guest at President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.
The White House expressed its approval of Sweden’s new alliance, stating that it would fortify the safety of the US and its allies. A spokesperson also highlighted the importance of the NATO alliance, which has its roots in the aftermath of World War Two, equating its relevance to the security of citizens today as it was when it was first instituted.
Sweden’s northern neighbour, Finland, too discarded its military neutrality, a feature that characterized the foreign policies of the Nordic states during the Cold War era. This change in stance came in the wake of Russia’s 2022 Ukraine invasion.
President Biden in his Congressional speech is likely to highlight Sweden’s NATO membership as proof that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin’s plans to debilitate and divide the alliance have been unsuccessful. Biden is anticipated to leverage Sweden’s decision to urge Republicans who have been hesitant to approve delayed military aid to Ukraine, especially since the conflict has entered its third year.
Sweden’s entry into NATO had previously encountered hurdles owing to oppositions from NATO members Turkey and Hungary. Turkey had accused Sweden of providing a safe haven for Kurdish groups, which it views as terrorist outfits, while Hungary’s President Viktor Orban, known for his pro-Russian inclinations, had not shared the alliance’s commitment to support Ukraine. Nonetheless, after considerable delay, both countries ratified Sweden’s inclusion into NATO earlier this year.