– Sweden has long been a partner, now they are an ally. With all the benefits and responsibilities that come with it. This is what NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says at a press conference in Brussels on Monday, which he is holding together with Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. The Swedish Prime Minister says that joining NATO has been like “coming home”. Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg welcomes Sweden to the defense alliance in Brussels. Photo: Yves Herman / Reuters – We know that the expectations for us are high, but we also have high expectations for ourselves. That’s what Kristersson says, who thanks Stoltenberg for his persistent fight to get Sweden into the alliance. – We are doubling our defense budget, and since 1 January Sweden has met the NATO requirement to spend 2 per cent of gross domestic product on strengthening the defence. The Swedish Prime Minister adds that Sweden has also increased the number of conscripts and introduced civil service. Sweden has previously had to meet several demands made by Turkey. Swedish optimism The Swedish Prime Minister is absolutely certain that it is right for Sweden to join the alliance, and more and more Swedes are also in agreement, according to surveys carried out by Statista. From January 2022 to January 2024, the support has increased from around 20 per cent to 60 per cent. The Swedish monarchy was also represented during the flag raising on Monday, by Crown Princess Victoria. Photo: Ohn Thys / AFP Freedom of alliance in peace and neutrality in war has long been Sweden’s foreign policy motto. But the war in Ukraine triggered unrest and a need to strengthen the defence. On Thursday, the Swedes broke over 200 years of neutrality and became an official member of NATO. Membership makes it easier for Sweden to practice militarily with other countries, in addition to the fact that they will have access to more military personnel and defense material. It will also be easier for foreign forces to practice in the northern area. The formalities have been completed, and on Monday there was a flag ceremony. At 12 noon, the Swedish flag was raised outside NATO’s headquarters in Brussels. Photo: Yves Herman / Reuters An important contribution Norway’s ambassador to NATO, Anita Nergaard, tells news that Sweden will be an important contribution to the alliance. – Sweden has large capacities and is a highly technological country. They have a defense industry to count on. Together with Norway and Finland in the north, we will be able to develop a strong and good defense of NATO’s northern area. Although Turkey and Hungary blocked the process for a long time, Nergaard does not think that there will be any problem that the two countries will now share an alliance with Sweden. – We work well with all allies and always have to find solutions. It is one of the strongest aspects of NATO cooperation. We take the time we need to get along. Anita Nergaard is Norway’s ambassador to NATO. Photo: Simen Ekern / news Nergaard says that NATO will start the practical work of getting Swedish cooperation started as soon as the flag is raised. Ukraine is close At the press conference in Brussels, Stoltenberg repeated that Ukraine is closer to NATO membership than anything. – We are strengthening our political cooperation in a NATO-Ukrainian council, and it is welcome that NATO allies are helping Ukraine to get closer to membership. Russia has previously said that it will react if Sweden becomes a NATO member. When asked what Sweden thinks about this, Kristersson says that they are now “on guard”. – The risk of cyber attacks against Sweden is not new, says Stoltenberg, who clarifies that an attack against an ally is an attack against everyone. – Sweden is safer on the inside of NATO than on the outside.
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Sweden is NATO’s 32nd member state – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
