“This is a historic moment for Sweden, for our alliance and for the transatlantic relationship,” Blinken said.
02:33
Nato kick-starts its largest-ever air force exercise in Germany, but says Russia is not the target
Nato kick-starts its largest-ever air force exercise in Germany, but says Russia is not the target
For Nato, the accessions of Sweden and Finland – which shares a 1,340km border with Russia – are the most significant additions in decades. It is also a blow for Russian President Vladimir Putin who has sought prevent any further strengthening of the alliance.
Sweden will benefit from the alliance’s common defence guarantee under which an attack on one member is regarded as an attack on all.
Hakan Yucel, 54, an IT worker in the Swedish capital, concurred and said: “Before, we were outside and felt a little bit alone … I think that the threat from Russia, it’s going to be much less now.”
The Nordic country would add cutting-edge submarines and a sizeable fleet of domestically produced Gripen fighter jets to Nato forces and be a crucial link between the Atlantic and Baltic.
Joining Nato ‘will bring opportunities’ for Sweden’s arms makers in Asia-Pacific
Joining Nato ‘will bring opportunities’ for Sweden’s arms makers in Asia-Pacific
Russia has threatened to take unspecified “political and military-technical countermeasures” in response to Sweden’s move.
“Joining Nato is really like buying insurance, at least as long as the United States is actually willing to be the insurance provider,” said Barbara Kunz, a researcher at defence think tank SIPRI.
While Stockholm has been drawing ever closer to Nato over the last two decades, membership marks a clear break with the past, when for more than 200 years, Sweden avoided military alliances and adopted a neutral stance in times of war.
After World War II, it built an international reputation as a champion of human rights, and since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, successive governments have pared back military spending.
03:48
Possible Nato membership for Finland and Sweden sparks concern in Russia
Possible Nato membership for Finland and Sweden sparks concern in Russia
As recently as 2021, its defence minister had rejected Nato membership, only for the then-Social Democrat government to apply, alongside neighbour Finland, just a few months later.
“I guess had to take a stance really and I’m happy that we actually did and that we are safeguarded by Nato, because the tension with Russia has been growing for a couple of years,” said Carl Fredrik Aspegren, 28, a student in Stockholm.
While Finland joined the alliance last year, Sweden was kept waiting as Turkey and Hungary, which both have cordial relations with Russia, delayed ratifying Sweden’s accession.
Turkey approved Sweden’s application in January. Hungary delayed its decision on Sweden’s accession until Kristersson made a goodwill visit to Budapest on February 23, where the two countries agreed a fighter jet deal.