Historical Milestone: Sweden Strengthens NATO with Accession

After lengthy negotiations and a period of deliberate political consideration, Sweden now marks a turning point in time with its entry into NATO. The completed expansion of the transatlantic defense alliance to now 32 member states doubles its size compared to the height of the Cold War. Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized the historical significance of this step: A process characterized by simultaneous progress and patience culminates in a "victory for freedom." General Jens Stoltenberg sees in Sweden's admission not only a historic moment but also a reinforcement for the alliance itself, which now benefits from Swedish military capability and the outstanding defense industry of the Scandinavian country. With Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, Sweden receives the ultimate assistance, a solidarity safeguard, which had been desirable for over two centuries of neutrality. The formal integration into the alliance followed delays mainly imposed by Turkey and Hungary. In particular, Turkey had expressed concerns about Swedish policy toward organizations classified as terrorist and only relented after concrete assurances from Ankara. An arms agreement was also reached stipulating that Hungary is allowed to acquire Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets. This agreement ultimately paved the way for Sweden's NATO accession. During an official visit to Washington, the historic step was sealed when Kristersson handed over the accession document to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Sweden's entry follows Finland, which had already been admitted as the 31st member in the previous year, and sends a geopolitical signal: The expansion strategy of Russian President Vladimir Putin meets its counterpart in a growing NATO presence in Europe, contrary to his intention to reduce it. At NATO's headquarters in Brussels, a special ceremony will take place to celebrate this occasion, where the Swedish flag will be added to those of the Allies, symbolically welcoming the new partner. Thus, the alliance emphasizes its cohesion and signals strength, even in view of the Russian land borders, of which, according to NATO, only a small part adjoins NATO.