Sweden to officially join NATO
Sweden to Join NATO, Breaking Neutrality
After more than a year of negotiations, Sweden is set to become the 32nd member of NATO.
The Nordic country broke with nearly 2 centuries of neutrality in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and formally applied for NATO membership in May of that year, alongside neighboring Finland, which also abandoned its longstanding policy of neutrality to join the alliance.
Joining NATO requires the unanimous consent of all current members – while most NATO nations were quick to approve the applications, Finland and Sweden both faced opposition from Hungary and Turkey. Pressure from the rest of the alliance and various concessions appear to have put those objections to rest. Finland formally joined NATO in April 2023. Turkey approved Sweden’s membership bid last month and on Monday the Hungarian parliament also approved it.
“The parliaments of all NATO member states have now voted in favor of Swedish accession to NATO.” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said. “Sweden stands ready to shoulder its responsibility for Euro-Atlantic security.”
Sweden is expected to officially join the organization in a ceremony sometime this week, after all the necessary paperwork has been finalized.
Turkey previously accused the two Scandinavian nations of being soft on Kurdish militants, who have been in conflict with Turkey’s government for decades. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appears to have backed down in exchange for increased weapons sales to his country – including the transfer of American made F-16 fighter jets.
Hungary’s objections appear to have been a response to past Swedish criticism of the Hungarian government under Viktor Orbán. Hungary’s shift in policy also coincides with an arms deal – Hungary purchased four Swedish fighter jets days before ratifying its NATO bid.
Wikimedia Commons
The expansion of NATO has been a major point of contention with Russia – one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stated reasons for invading Ukraine was to prevent the country from joining the Western military bloc and moving its forces to the Russian border. Finland, which, like Ukraine, was also once part of the Russian Empire, has an 830 mile long land border with Russia, and with the accession of Sweden and Finland the alliance will almost totally encircle the Baltic Sea, where the Russian port of St. Petersburg strategic exclave of Kaliningrad are located.
While Russia hasn’t taken direct military action against either nation, relations have cooled considerably between it and the formally neutral nations. Last year the Russian ambassador to Sweden said the country had become a “legitimate target for Russian retaliatory measures” and Finland closed its border with Russia.
“When it comes to Russia, the only thing we can expect is that they will not like that Sweden is becoming a NATO member,” Kristersson said. “What they do in addition to that, we cannot know. We are prepared for all sorts of things.”
What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of Sweden joining NATO in terms of its defense against potential threats?
Fighter jets that Sweden is known for manufacturing.
The decision to join NATO has received mixed reactions within Sweden. Supporters argue that membership in the alliance will enhance Sweden’s security and provide a strong defense against potential threats. They view Russia’s actions in Ukraine as a clear demonstration of the need for collective defense. Additionally, joining NATO will allow Sweden to strengthen its relationships with other member states and benefit from increased military cooperation and intelligence sharing.
Opponents, on the other hand, express concerns about potential consequences. They believe that joining NATO will only escalate tensions with Russia and increase the likelihood of a conflict. They argue that Sweden’s long-standing policy of neutrality has allowed the country to maintain peace and stability for more than two centuries and should not be abandoned lightly. There are also concerns about the financial implications of membership, as Sweden will be required to invest more in defense spending.
Sweden’s decision to join NATO may have wider geopolitical implications. It could further tip the balance of power in the Baltic region, which has increasingly become an area of focus for both NATO and Russia. The alliance’s expansion into the Nordic region will undoubtedly be closely monitored by other neighboring countries, such as Norway and Denmark, as well as Russia itself.
Overall, Sweden’s decision to join NATO marks a significant shift in its foreign policy and defense strategy. It reflects the evolving security dynamics in Europe and the increasing concerns about Russia’s assertiveness. While it may bring benefits in terms of security cooperation and deterrence, it also presents challenges and potential risks that Sweden will need to navigate in the coming years.
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