Sweden Seeks NATO Membership, Ending Neutrality

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Sweden's prime minister stated Monday that Sweden will join Finland in seeking NATO membership, marking a historic reversal in the Nordic country's military nonalignment after more than 200 years, according to the AP news.

The move, which is certain to irritate Russian President Vladimir Putin's government, comes after Finland declared on Sunday that it, too, will seek membership in the 30-nation military alliance.

As she addressed MPs in Stockholm, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson termed it "a significant transformation in our country's security policy."

"We will notify NATO of our desire to join the alliance," she stated. "Being a member of NATO provides official security guarantees to Sweden."

Andersson went on to say that Sweden was working with Finland, whose government declared on Sunday that it would like to join the alliance.

The news came after an earlier Monday debate in the Riksdagen, or parliament, revealed widespread support for joining NATO. Only two tiny left-wing parties opposed it out of Sweden's eight political parties.

The Swedish Social Democrats broke with their long-held view that Sweden must remain nonaligned on Sunday, clearing the path for a decisive majority in parliament in favour of NATO membership.

Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, public opinion in both Nordic countries was solidly opposed to joining NATO, but after that, support for NATO membership soared in both countries.

"The Swedish government intends to request for membership in NATO. Foreign Minister Ann Linde stated on Twitter, "A historic day for Sweden." "The conclusion is that Sweden will stand stronger along with NATO allies with broad backing from political parties in the parliament."

Sweden, which was formerly a regional military force, has avoided military alliances since the Napoleonic Wars ended. It, like Finland, remained neutral throughout the Cold War, but once the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991, it forged tighter ties with NATO.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the governments of Finland and Sweden reacted quickly by convening cross-party debates about NATO membership and reaching out to the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and other NATO countries for assistance.

The Kremlin, on the other hand, has repeatedly warned that the move will destabilise European security.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that while Moscow "does not have a problem" with Sweden or Finland joining NATO, "the extension of military facilities onto their territory will give rise to our retaliation in kind."

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Monday in Helsinki that Congress has "quite considerable" support and that he expects ratification to happen quickly. He expressed hope for a vote before the August recess.

Only the minor Left and Green parties in Sweden's parliament objected to Sweden joining NATO.