Sweden formally joined NATO on Thursday as its thirty second member, almost two years after first making use of for membership to the army alliance. Earlier on Thursday, the Swedish authorities issued a statement by which it shared that it was holding a rare authorities assembly to formally vote on becoming a member of the alliance in any case present NATO members authorized its accession.
Following the vote, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson—who was in Washington DC on the time—met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to deposit Sweden’s instrument of accession, thereby making Sweden a member of NATO and a totally collaborating ally. “Sweden is now a NATO member,” Kristersson shared to X (previously Twitter). “Thanks Allies for welcoming us because the thirty second member. We are going to attempt for unity, solidarity, and burden-sharing, and can absolutely adhere to the Washington Treaty values: freedom, democracy, particular person liberty, and the rule of legislation. Stronger collectively.”
The information was subsequently confirmed with a statement from NATO:
This can be a historic day. Sweden will now take its rightful place at NATO’s desk, with an equal say in shaping NATO insurance policies and selections. After over 200 years of non-alignment Sweden now enjoys the safety granted below Article 5, the final word assure of the Allies’ freedom and safety. Sweden brings with it succesful armed forces and a first-class protection trade. Right now’s accession demonstrates that NATO’s door stays open and that each nation has the fitting to decide on its personal path.
NATO Secretary Normal Jens Stoltenberg took to X to share his personal statement. Stoltenberg mentioned Sweden was “taking its rightful place at our desk.” He went on to say, “Sweden’s accession makes NATO stronger, Sweden safer, and the entire Alliance safer. I stay up for elevating their flag at NATO HQ on Monday.”
NATO—formally the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or North Atlantic Alliance—is a deterrent intergovernmental army alliance consisting of European and North American states. Established within the aftermath of World Struggle II, it operates on a framework of collective defense; the impartial member states, upon accession, conform to defend one another in opposition to assaults by third events. That is maybe greatest illustrated by the alliance’s mantra, “An assault in opposition to one is an assault in opposition to all,” which is enshrined in Article 5 of the founding Washington Treaty.
Sweden first applied for accession to NATO alongside Finland in Might 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, after historic insurance policies of army non-alignment and neutrality. Although most member states have been fast to ratify Sweden’s bid, two didn’t. NATO member states Hungary and Türkiye initially opposed the Nordic nation’s accession, owing to sure political strains between their respective governments and Sweden’s authorities.
Nevertheless, Türkiye in the end approved Sweden’s accession in January. Hungary adopted shortly thereafter, voting to ratify on February 26.
To mark its official accession to the alliance, Sweden’s flag will probably be raised alongside these of the opposite 31 Allies in a ceremony at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on March 11.
