Sweden becomes a formal member of NATO – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries

Two years after Russia went to full-scale war against Ukraine, Sweden is immediately part of NATO. The Swedish government today made the formal decision to become part of the defense alliance. The country’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is in Washington to hand over the final documents. – This is a good day for Sweden. Absolutely, says Swede Hans Strandberg, whom news meets in Åre. Sweden’s membership is mentioned in a statement from the White House, which comes just before US President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union speech. – With Sweden as a NATO ally, the US and its allies become even safer, the statement says. The incorporation of both Sweden and Finland is the most significant expansion of the defense alliance in several decades. Finland has a 1,340 km long border with Russia. – A good day for Sweden Sweden has been neutral for 208 years, but has been considering NATO membership for the past twenty years. The war in Ukraine has forced the country to make an abrupt change in its security strategy. As a member, Sweden will receive the same protection as all other neighbours: an attack on one NATO country is understood as an attack on all. – We have to relate to the world as it is, and not how we sometimes wish it to be, Kristersson said. The statement came after Hungary became the last country to approve Sweden’s NATO application. Hans Strandberg in Åre thinks it is time for Sweden to become a member of NATO. Photo: Jøte Toftaker / news – It’s time Hans Strandberg in Åre thinks it’s time. – I think it is good for the whole Nordic region that we join NATO, and I think it is important. It will strengthen the community with the Nordic countries, and with the European countries, says Strandberg to news. Ella Gren thinks it has taken a long time, but that it is good that they succeeded in the end. She is worried about the situation. – Yes, it’s a bit uncomfortable. Especially when it gets so close, says Gren. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre says that Sweden’s membership will strengthen security in the north. – I am happy that this is happening today. It feels historic, correct and safe that Sweden is in NATO, he says to news. Ella Gren in Åre thinks it is good that Sweden becomes a member of NATO Photo: Jøte Toftaker / news



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