Sweden ends neutrality and joins Finland in pursuit of NATO spot

Sweden ends neutrality and joins Finland in pursuit of NATO spot

By KARL RITTER, Associated Press

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden’s prime minister announced Monday that Sweden will join Finland in its bid to join NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The historic change, which comes after more than 200 years of military misalignment in the Nordic country, is likely to upset Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We will inform NATO that we wish to become a member of the alliance,” said Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson.

Informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers as Russian war in Ukraine continues

BERLIN, GERMANY – MAY 15: Antony Blinken (R), US Secretary of State, attends a press conference during an informal meeting of NATO member states’ foreign ministers on May 15, 2022 in Berlin, in Germany. The ongoing Russian war in Ukraine dominates the meeting. Senior diplomats from Sweden and Finland, two countries most likely to apply for NATO membership, are also attending the two-day meeting. (Photo by Hannibal Hanschke/Getty Images)

The announcement came after a debate in the Riksdagen, or parliament, earlier on Monday showed there is huge support for joining NATO. Of Sweden’s eight parties, only two small left-wing parties opposed it.

On Sunday, Sweden’s Social Democrats broke with the party’s longstanding position that Sweden must remain non-aligned, paving the way for a clear majority for NATO membership in parliament.

The move in Sweden came after neighboring Finland announced on Sunday that it would also seek to join the 30-nation alliance.

Public opinion in both countries was strongly opposed to NATO membership prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, but support for NATO membership rose rapidly thereafter.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s previous story follows below.

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden has decided to follow neighboring Finland and seek NATO membership, ending more than 200 years of military misalignment due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, officials said Monday.

Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson called it a “historic change in our country’s security policy” when addressing lawmakers in the Swedish capital.

“Sweden needs the formal security guarantees that come with NATO membership,” Andersson said, adding that the country was acting in concert with Finland, whose government announced on Sunday it would seek to join NATO. alliance.

Andersson was due to formally announce the Swedish government’s decision later Monday with opposition leader Ulf Kristersson.

The move was essentially a deal struck after Andersson’s Social Democratic Party dropped its longstanding opposition to NATO membership on Sunday, giving those in favor a clear majority in parliament.

“The intention of the Swedish government is to apply for NATO membership. A historic day for Sweden,” Foreign Minister Ann Linde wrote on Twitter. “With broad support from political parties in parliament, the conclusion is that Sweden will be stronger together with its NATO allies.”

Once a regional military power, Sweden has avoided military alliances since the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Like Finland, it remained neutral throughout the Cold War, but forged closer ties with NATO after the Soviet collapse.

Public opinion in both countries was strongly opposed to NATO membership until Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, after which polls indicated a dramatic shift in favor of NATO. membership.
The Finnish and Swedish governments responded by quickly launching cross-party talks on NATO membership and seeking support from the United States, Britain, Germany and other countries in NATO.

In Helsinki, Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell said on Monday there was “very strong” support in Congress and that he expects quick ratification. He said he hoped a vote could take place before the August recess.

The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that the move would have destabilizing consequences for security in Europe.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Moscow “has no problem” with Sweden or Finland in their application for NATO membership, but that “the expansion of military infrastructure in this territory will of course cause our reaction in response”.

In the Swedish parliament, only the small left and green parties opposed joining NATO.

Andersson said Sweden would refuse nuclear weapons or permanent NATO bases on its soil – similar terms to those neighboring Norway and Denmark insisted on when the alliance was formed after World War II.

Although NATO officials have expressed hope for a quick ratification process, NATO’s current 30 members must agree to let Finland and Sweden in. Turkey voiced some objections last week, accusing the two countries of supporting Kurdish militants and others Turkey considers terrorists.

Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist told public broadcaster SVT that a Swedish delegation would be sent to Ankara to discuss the issue.

___ Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report.
___
Follow AP coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Some big US companies are pulling out of Russia because of Ukraine

Here are some of the major US companies that are halting business operations in Russia to protest the ongoing war with Ukraine.

At least 10 dead, mass shooting atop Jefferson in Buffalo

Comments are closed.