Stockholm: Swedendecision of social democratic party said on Sunday that he is in favor of joining natoReversing its decades old protest and paving the way for the country to submit membership applications.
The change comes amid growing political and public support in Sweden to join the Western Military Alliance. RussiaFebruary 24 attack Ukraine,
The issue has divided Prime Minister Magdalena Anderson’s Social Democrats, with some party members expressing concern that the decision was being rushed through.
The party said on Sunday that if Sweden’s application is approved, it would work to express “unilateral reservations against the deployment of nuclear weapons and permanent bases in Swedish territory”.
The announcement came just hours after neighboring Finland announced its official intention to apply for membership.
In a move seen as a deterrent against aggression from Russia, the two countries have expressed their willingness to act unitedly and jointly submit their applications.
A review of security policy presented Friday in Sweden’s parliament concluded that Swedish NATO membership would reduce the risk of conflict in northern Europe.
The report stopped short of offering a concrete recommendation on whether to engage, but noted that “developing a bilateral defense alliance outside the existing European and Euro-Atlantic structures was not realistic.”
It also noted that “within the framework of the current cooperation, there is no guarantee that Sweden will receive help if it was the target of a serious threat or attack.”
Sweden, which was neutral in World War II, has stayed out of military alliances for more than 200 years, although it has maintained close ties with NATO since the 1990s.
The change comes amid growing political and public support in Sweden to join the Western Military Alliance. RussiaFebruary 24 attack Ukraine,
The issue has divided Prime Minister Magdalena Anderson’s Social Democrats, with some party members expressing concern that the decision was being rushed through.
The party said on Sunday that if Sweden’s application is approved, it would work to express “unilateral reservations against the deployment of nuclear weapons and permanent bases in Swedish territory”.
The announcement came just hours after neighboring Finland announced its official intention to apply for membership.
In a move seen as a deterrent against aggression from Russia, the two countries have expressed their willingness to act unitedly and jointly submit their applications.
A review of security policy presented Friday in Sweden’s parliament concluded that Swedish NATO membership would reduce the risk of conflict in northern Europe.
The report stopped short of offering a concrete recommendation on whether to engage, but noted that “developing a bilateral defense alliance outside the existing European and Euro-Atlantic structures was not realistic.”
It also noted that “within the framework of the current cooperation, there is no guarantee that Sweden will receive help if it was the target of a serious threat or attack.”
Sweden, which was neutral in World War II, has stayed out of military alliances for more than 200 years, although it has maintained close ties with NATO since the 1990s.