Sweden has officially joined the NATO military alliance, ending decades of neutrality. It is the 32nd member after it completing its accession process in Washington.
“Unity and solidarity will be Sweden’s guiding lights as a NATO member,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in a statement delivered in Washington, DC after a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Describing it as ‘a historic day’, The NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said, “After over 200 years of non-alignment Sweden now enjoys the protection granted under Article 5, the ultimate guarantee of Allies’ freedom and security”.
Finland and Sweden had both applied to join the defense alliance in the wake of Russian President Putin ordering the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While Finland officially joined NATO last April, Sweden’s bid was held up by Hungary and Turkey. For NATO, the accessions of Sweden and Finland are the most significant additions in decades as it shares a 830-mile border with Russia.
In response to Sweden’s move, Russia has threatened to take unspecified “political and military-technical counter-measures”, reported Reuters.
U.S. President Joe Biden, in a statement, said the addition of Sweden made NATO “more united, determined, and dynamic than ever,” adding that the accession of Sweden and Finland to the alliance meant the addition of “two highly capable militaries.”
