STOCKHOLM (AP) – Sweden has decided to join neighboring Finland and apply for NATO membership, ending more than 200 years of military compromise. Russia’s aggression on Ukrainian officials was announced Monday.
In a speech in the Swedish capital, Prime Minister Magdalena Anderson called it a “historic change in our country’s security policy”.
Anderson officially announced the Swedish government’s decision on Monday, along with opposition leader Ulf Christerson.
The move is essentially a bargaining chip after Anderson’s Social Democratic Party on Sunday rejected long -standing opposition to NATO membership, giving supporters a clear majority in parliament.
“The goal of the Swedish government is to apply for NATO membership.” This is a historic day for Sweden, “Foreign Minister Ann Linde wrote on Twitter.” With the broad support of political parties in parliament, the conclusion is that Sweden will be stronger than its NATO allies.
Once a regional military power, Sweden avoided military alliances after the Napoleonic Wars. Like Finland, it was neutral during the Cold War, but after the collapse of the Soviet Union it established closer ties with NATO.
Public opinion in both countries strongly opposed Russia’s joining NATO before Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, after which polls indicated a dramatic change in favor of membership.
The governments of Finland and Sweden responded by quickly initiating discussions between political parties on NATO membership and appealing to the United States, Great Britain, Germany and other NATO countries for support.
Republican Senate leader in Helsinki Mitch McConnell said Monday that there is “very significant” support for Congress and he expects rapid ratification. He said he hopes the vote will take place before the August festival.
The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that the move would have destabilizing consequences for security in Europe.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Moscow has “no problem” with Sweden or Finland because they want to join NATO, but that “the expansion of military infrastructure in this area will certainly provoke our reaction. . “
Only small left and green parties protested against Sweden’s membership in NATO.
Anderson said Sweden would provide nuclear weapons or NATO’s permanent base on its soil, conditions similar to those required by neighboring Norway and Denmark when the alliance was formed after World War II.
While NATO officials have expressed hope for a speedy ratification process, all 30 current NATO members must agree to liberate Finland and Sweden. Turkey expressed some opposition last week, accusing the two countries of supporting Kurdish militants and others whom Turkey considers terrorists.
Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist told public broadcaster SVT that a Swedish delegation would be sent to Ankara to discuss the matter.
___ Contributed to this report by Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Source: Huffpost
