Sweden’s accession to NATO will have a stabilizing effect and will benefit the Baltic countriessaid today the Foreign Minister Ann Lindea day after neighboring Finland pledged to apply to join the 30-member alliance.
«Swedish membership in NATO would thus prevent conflicts in northern Europe“, Linde told reporters presenting a parliamentary report on security.
“Our view is that we will not suffer a conventional military attack in response to a possible NATO bid,” Linde added.
Without formally making a recommendation, she The 40-page report highlights a number of advantages for Swedenif it joins the alliance with its neighbor Finland, which is expected to formalize its candidacy the day after tomorrow, Sunday.
The report also concludes that, as a non-NATO member, Sweden does not currently have “guarantees” that it will be assisted in the event of an attack..
“In the current context (…) there is no guarantee that Sweden will be helped if it becomes the target of a serious threat or attack,” he said.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced Sweden and Finland to side with each other, having remained outside NATO since the alliance was founded in 1949.
The President and Prime Minister of Finland announced yesterday, Thursday, that their country – which has a 1,300-kilometer land border and a difficult past with Russia – must apply to join NATO “without delay”.
Sweden is widely expected to follow Finland’s example and Stockholm to follow suit. may apply to join NATO as early as next Monday.
Sweden will be more vulnerable to attack if it is the only Scandinavian or Baltic country to stay out of NATO, the cross-party report said, although it added that Russia could retaliate if the country asked to join. .
«If Sweden chooses to seek NATO membership, there is a risk that Russia will react“, Said the Secretary of Defense Peter Helkvist.
«Let me state that, in such a case, we are ready to face any retaliation“, The minister added.
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