Sweden’s government on Monday announced that it would formally apply for NATO membership. Sweden, the EU member, which remained neutral throughout the Cold War, has rapidly reappraised its position in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“The Government’s assessment is that NATO membership is the best way to protect Sweden’s security in light of the fundamentally changed security environment following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” the Swedish government said in a statement.
“This decision is based on a security analysis that the Government invited the other Riksdag parties to take part in and its conclusions that were presented in a report on 13 May, ” it added.
“Today, Sweden has decided to apply to become a member of NATO. A historic decision with broad support in parliament. NATO membership would strengthen Sweden’s security. As a member, Sweden would increase the security for all of NATO,” Swiden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said in a tweet.
The move comes after Russia’s neighbor Finland officially declared that it would be joining the European military alliance.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin said both countries can expect a “response”. There has been growing pressure on Sweden and Finland from within their country to join the alliance after President Putin declared his “special military operation” against Ukraine on February 24.
Sweden’s governing Social Democrats had given the green signal to the government to enter NATO putting aside decades of neutrality.
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