Sweden officially joins NATO on Thursday

In a historic move, Sweden officially joined Nato on Thursday, becoming the organization's 32nd member. This decision, made in the midst of the conflict in Ukraine, marks the end of two centuries of non-alignment for Sweden and the conclusion of two years of intense diplomatic efforts.

During a visit to Washington, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson presented the confirmation documents to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, symbolizing Sweden's full membership in Nato. Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Sweden to the alliance, saying that the country now has an equal voice in shaping Nato's policies and decisions.

This is a significant day for Sweden. By joining Nato, Sweden now has the protection and security that comes with Article 5, ensuring allies' freedom and security, Stoltenberg remarked, highlighting the significance of Sweden's shift from non-alignment to Nato membership.

The Swedish government announced a special government meeting to approve their accession.

Kristersson is scheduled to attend President Joe Biden's annual State of the Union address later in the day, where the President is working to convince the rival Republican Party to approve new aid for Ukraine.

The blue and golden-yellow flag of Sweden is set to be raised on Monday at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Russia has promised retaliation over Sweden joining NATO, particularly if alliance troops and assets are deployed in the country.

Sweden and Finland, both closely linked militarily with the US and EU, have historically avoided officially joining NATO, which was formed during the Cold War to stand against the Soviet Union.

Since the Napoleonic conflicts of the early 19th century, Sweden has not been involved in any wars, including World War II.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland and Sweden jointly applied to join NATO, as Ukraine had unsuccessfully sought membership. NATO views an attack on one member as an attack on all, and Finland successfully joined in April 2023.

According to a recent poll by Swedish broadcaster SR, most Swedes believe their country made too many sacrifices to join NATO, but over three-quarters believe NATO will enhance the country's security.