NATO

[XCR1250]

Sweden officially joins NATO, ending decades of post-World War II neutrality

MATTHEW LEE AND LORNE COOK

March 7, 2024 at 11:29 AM

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sweden on Thursday formally joined NATO as the 32nd member of the transatlantic military alliance, ending decades of post-World War II neutrality as concerns about Russian aggression in Europe have spiked following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Secretary of State Antony Blinken presided at a ceremony in which Sweden’s “instrument of accession” to the alliance was officially deposited at the State Department.

“This is a historic moment for Sweden. It's historic for the alliance. It's history for the transatlantic relationship,” Blinken said. “Our NATO alliance is now stronger, larger than it’s ever been.”

Kristersson wrote in a social media post that “we are therefore a safer country.”

Later Thursday. Kristersson will visit the White House and then be a guest of honor at President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address to Congress.

The White House said that having Sweden as a NATO ally “will make the United States and our allies even safer.”

"NATO is the most powerful defensive alliance in the history of the world, and it is as critical today to ensuring the security of our citizens as it was 75 years ago when our alliance was founded out of the wreckage of World War II,” it said in a statement.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg described it as “a historic day.”

“Sweden will now take its rightful place at NATO’s table, with an equal say in shaping NATO policies and decisions,” he said in a statement.

The Swedish flag will be raised outside the military organization’s headquarters in Brussels on Monday. Stoltenberg underscored that the Nordic country “now enjoys the protection granted under Article 5, the ultimate guarantee of allies’ freedom and security.”

 

Article 5 of NATO’s treaty obliges all members to come to the aid of an ally whose territory or security is under threat. It has only been activated once – by the U.S. after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks – and is the collective security guarantee that Sweden has sought since Russia invaded Ukraine.

“Sweden’s accession makes NATO stronger, Sweden safer and the whole alliance more secure,” Stoltenberg said. He added that the move “demonstrates that NATO’s door remains open and that every nation has the right to choose its own path.”

Sweden, along with Finland, which joined NATO last year, both abandoned long-standing military neutrality that was a hallmark of the Nordic states’ Cold War foreign policy after Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022.

Biden, in his speech to Congress, is expected to cite Sweden’s accession to NATO as evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intent to divide and weaken the alliance has failed as a direct result of the Ukraine invasion. And, the Democratic president is expected to use Sweden’s decision to join to step up calls for reluctant Republicans to approved stalled military assistance to Ukraine as the war enters its third year.

Biden and his NATO counterparts have vowed that Ukraine will join one day, too.

Sweden’s membership had been held up due to objections by NATO members Turkey and Hungary. Turkey expressed concern that Sweden was harboring and not taking enough action against Kurdish groups that it regards as terrorists, and Hungary's populist President Viktor Orban has shown pro-Russian sentiment and not shared the alliance’s determination to support Ukraine.

After months of delay, Turkey ratified Sweden’s admission earlier this year, and Hungary did so this week.

[ActionfigureJoe]

I’m surprised that turkey agreed. 

[f7ben]

I hope Trump withdraws the U.S. from NATO when he wins. What’s corrupt useless idiotic group of mic controlled filth 

[ActionfigureJoe]

Just now, f7ben said:

I hope Trump withdraws the U.S. from NATO when he wins. What’s corrupt useless idiotic group of mic controlled filth 

I agree. Germany, turkey, and all the rest should have their own nukes and military build up. 

[GreenStreak]

4 minutes ago, f7ben said:

I hope Trump withdraws the U.S. from NATO when he wins. What’s corrupt useless idiotic group of mic controlled filth 

Hell yeah and mister republican howard taft did not want us in nato at all. We need to get out of nato.

[Rod]

This is like adding an extra square to a roll of toilet paper 

[f7ben]

8 minutes ago, ActionfigureJoe said:

I agree. Germany, turkey, and all the rest should have their own nukes and military build up. 

Who do they need nukes to defend themselves against? We are the only ones that have ever used a nuke 

[ActionfigureJoe]

Just now, f7ben said:

Who do they need nukes to defend themselves against? We are the only ones that have ever used a nuke 

Everyone should have a nuke. I’m looking forward to seeing the kind of military merchandise Germany can crank out. They could easily be a major exporter of military hardware. That would be a big boost to their economy. Turkey has finalized their homegrown 5th Gen fighter and it’ll be ready for export very soon. IMO the NATO alliance has done nothing except save European countries money on their own defense systems and development costs. 

[f7ben]

26 minutes ago, ActionfigureJoe said:

Everyone should have a nuke. I’m looking forward to seeing the kind of military merchandise Germany can crank out. They could easily be a major exporter of military hardware. That would be a big boost to their economy. Turkey has finalized their homegrown 5th Gen fighter and it’ll be ready for export very soon. IMO the NATO alliance has done nothing except save European countries money on their own defense systems and development costs. 

I think the whole world should kill itself and whatever makes that happen the fastest is good with me. Humans have proved themselves unworthy of existing 

[steve from amherst]

27 minutes ago, ActionfigureJoe said:

Everyone should have a nuke. I’m looking forward to seeing the kind of military merchandise Germany can crank out. They could easily be a major exporter of military hardware. That would be a big boost to their economy. Turkey has finalized their homegrown 5th Gen fighter and it’ll be ready for export very soon. IMO the NATO alliance has done nothing except save European countries money on their own defense systems and development costs. 

your opinion is correct

[akvanden]

Everyone seems to forget how NATO has helped the US become the powerhouse that it is. Thinking that dismantling it and the negative impact it’ll have on our influence around the world won’t have negative economic implications for us is cute, and foolish. This doesn’t even consider what has been mentioned above on the destabilizing effects of an “everyone for themselves” policy would have for stability across the world, inducing stability for global financial markets.

[Mainecat]

11 minutes ago, akvanden said:

Everyone seems to forget how NATO has helped the US become the powerhouse that it is. Thinking that dismantling it and the negative impact it’ll have on our influence around the world won’t have negative economic implications for us is cute, and foolish. This doesn’t even consider what has been mentioned above on the destabilizing effects of an “everyone for themselves” policy would have for stability across the world, inducing stability for global financial markets.

You are correct. Without NATO Europe becomes a complete killing ground.

Anyone here who thinks otherwise is a commie anti American.

[f7ben]

Just now, Mainecat said:

You are correct. Without NATO Europe becomes a complete killing ground.

Anyone here who thinks otherwise is a commie anti American.

Fuck Europe and fuck you 

[Voodoo]

1 hour ago, f7ben said:

I think the whole world should kill itself and whatever makes that happen the fastest is good with me. Humans have proved themselves unworthy of existing 

The planet needs a reset button.  Humans invented it in '45.

1 hour ago, f7ben said:

Who do they need nukes to defend themselves against? We are the only ones that have ever used a nuke 

That will change soon, as soon as Iran has them.

[Mainecat]

34 minutes ago, f7ben said:

Fuck Europe and fuck you 

Selfish prick noted.

[ActionfigureJoe]

There has been no large scale global conflict since the start of NATO. Let’s disband nato and see if the pattern holds. 

[steve from amherst]

2 hours ago, akvanden said:

Everyone seems to forget how NATO has helped the US become the powerhouse that it is. Thinking that dismantling it and the negative impact it’ll have on our influence around the world won’t have negative economic implications for us is cute, and foolish. This doesn’t even consider what has been mentioned above on the destabilizing effects of an “everyone for themselves” policy would have for stability across the world, inducing stability for global financial markets.

So you are basicly saying that without the united states , nato would be weak and useless?

[f7ben]

1 hour ago, ActionfigureJoe said:

There has been no large scale global conflict since the start of NATO. Let’s disband nato and see if the pattern holds. 

Well the U.S. is the entirety of NATOs teeth , what fucking difference does it make 

[akvanden]

21 minutes ago, steve from amherst said:

So you are basicly saying that without the united states , nato would be weak and useless?

Among other things.

[ViperGTS/Z1]

5 hours ago, f7ben said:

I think the whole world should kill itself and whatever makes that happen the fastest is good with me. Humans have proved themselves unworthy of existing 

Start believing in the Bible....we will never live in a peaceful world....trying is futile... it will only get worse. ..... I'm fine with it

[Deephaven]

It'd be a lot more peaceful if the Bible never had existed.

[ViperGTS/Z1]

32 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

It'd be a lot more peaceful if the Bible never had existed.

   SBYL.....wear your shorts... you're gonna need em

[Rod]

13 hours ago, f7ben said:

Well the U.S. is the entirety of NATOs teeth , what fucking difference does it make 

And those teeth are starting to get dull 

NATO is basically rubbish without the US. 

[Deephaven]

10 hours ago, ViperGTS/Z1 said:

   SBYL.....wear your shorts... you're gonna need em

A history of religious wars has nothing to do with my luck.  All caused by the stupidity of Bible beaters.  A lot of history is sad and something we should learn from, you should try once.