Sweden joins Nato after overcoming final hurdle

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has redrawn the geopolitical landscape.

The Hungarian parliament approved Stockholm’s application on Monday, and it could become the 32nd member in the military alliance as early as Friday.

Ulf Kristersson said that today is a historic moment, noting all Nato parliaments had voted for Sweden’s membership. “Sweden is ready to take on its responsibility in the Euro-Atlantic Security.”

The addition of Sweden to NATO and Finland in the last year is one of the most significant geopolitical effects of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s conflict in Ukraine.

The secretary-general of Nato, Jens Stoltenberg said, “Sweden joining Nato will make us stronger and safer.” This comes as the Scandinavian nation ends two centuries of neutrality in order to secure the collective defence pledge of the alliance.

With the addition of two Nordic countries, Nato now controls almost all of the Baltic Sea except for the Russian exclave Kaliningrad. Sweden’s Gotland island is a key location in the region and central to any defense of the three Baltic States from any possible Russian attack.

The alliance’s eastern flank is also transformed by their accession, as Finland’s eastern border of 1,340km doubles the alliance’s border to Russia.

Stockholm and other European Capitals have increased their warnings against the possibility that Russia could launch attacks in other countries outside Ukraine, and test Nato’s Mutual Defence Clause.

Carl-Oskar BOHLIN, Minister for Civil Defence, said last month that there could be wars in Sweden.

After Sweden overcame Turkey’s long-standing opposition, Hungary was the final hurdle to Sweden joining Nato. Both countries were causing frustration among Swedish officials, who felt that they were blocking the fastest Nato accession in history.

Ankara demanded that Sweden take stronger action against separatists. The objections of Turkey were centered on Sweden’s historical support for ethnic Kurds. Last month, it approved Sweden’s Nato proposal. Days later, the US agreed to sell $23bn worth of F-16 fighter planes to Turkey.

Sweden was more surprised by the blockade of Hungary because ministers from Budapest had assured their Stockholm counterparts that they wouldn’t be the last ones to ratify. Hungary’s government claimed that Sweden had lowered its standards of democracy.

Viktor Orban, Hungary’s prime minister, told the Budapest parliament before the vote: “We support this accession.” “Nato members protect each other if an attack from the outside occurs. There is no commitment greater than that of NATO, so it’s important to. . . we first settle our disputes.”

Hungary, despite acknowledging that there were still differences, gave in to pressure from the US and Nato, as well as other allies. This was just at the time that Orban was facing a scandal involving domestic abuse that forced him to resign.

Hungarian Leader took a swipe against the pressure and told lawmakers that there was an “external interference in the settlement”. . . This hampered the resolution”.

Orban met with Kristersson in Budapest on Friday, as part of a choreography to accept the Nato application.

Budapest has agreed to purchase four new Saab Gripen jet fighters from Sweden. This brings its fleet up to 18.

Orban stated that “Swedish and Hungarian military cooperation, as well as Sweden’s Nato membership, strengthen the security of Hungary.” “So, I ask my colleagues to [approve] Sweden’s Nato membership.”