WASHINGTON: Sweden on Thursday became the 32nd member of Nato, turning the page on two centuries of non-alignment and capping two years of tortuous diplomacy after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered new fears.
Days after Hungary followed key holdout Turkey and became the last Nato member to sign off, Sweden ceremonially handed over accession documents to the US, the leading force of the transatlantic alliance that promises joint security for all.Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson late Thursday attended as a guest at the annual State of the Union address of President Joe Biden, whose rival Donald Trump has disparaged Nato as unfairly burdening the US.
He later delivered a televised address to the nation from Washington, telling Swedes: “We are a small country, but we understand more than most the importance of the greater world beyond our borders.” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky also hailed Sweden’s membership, saying: “One more country in Europe has become more protected from Russian evil.”Sweden has not fought in a war since the Napoleonic conflicts of the early 19th century.
Russia has vowed “countermeasures” over Sweden’s entry into Nato, especially if the alliance’s troops and assets deploy in the country. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan later demanded action after protesters, enjoying Swedish laws on free speech, desecrated Islam’s holy book the Koran. The US simultaneously pushed ahead with US$8.6 billion in more advanced F-35 jets for Greece, a fellow Nato member and historic adversary of Turkey.
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