Sweden and Finland reversed their decades-long tradition of military non-alignment and applied to join NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Turkey initially resisted the bids, citing concerns over the activities of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in both Nordic countries. Ankara reversed its decision after Stockholm, Helsinki and Washington met some of its demands, including limiting the activities of the armed group in both Nordic countries and approving the purchase of US F-16 fighter jets by Turkey.
“Sweden is now a NATO member. Thank you all Allies for welcoming us as the 32nd member. We will strive for unity, solidarity and burden-sharing, and will fully adhere to the Washington Treaty values: freedom, democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. Stronger together,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in a post on X late Thursday.
Earlier in the day, he submitted the documents ratifying Sweden’s NATO accession to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a ceremony in Washington.
"Good things come to those who wait,” Blinken was cited by AFP as saying during the ceremony. "I think if you step back and think of where we were three years ago, none of this was foreordained.”
NATO members welcomed Sweden into the alliance, with the British army calling it a “historic moment” which makes the alliance “stronger and further assures European security.”
The move comes amid renewed Russian threats of nuclear attacks if NATO troops are sent to Ukraine.
Unanimous approval by alliance members is required in order for new countries to join NATO.
Hungary initially suspended the NATO bid of both Scandinavian countries but finally decided to approve them.
Finland became the 31st member of NATO in April last year.
