Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde signed her country’s application for NATO membership on Tuesday. “Our NATO application is now officially signed,” Linde wrote on Twitter. This will now be sent to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg once Finland has signed an application.
The Swedish government made the final decision on Monday on the application for NATO membership. “It feels big, it feels serious, it feels like we’ve finally done what we think is best for Sweden,” Linde said on Tuesday.
Impressed by the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, both countries decided to submit their membership applications together. Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and the Finnish government have already decided to apply. The Finnish parliament could still vote on Tuesday.
“This is a historic decision”
Swedish King Carl XVI. Gustaf stressed his country’s intention to join NATO “at the same time and in consultation with Finland”. “This is a historic step that we are taking side by side with our brother country,” he said at a press conference with Niinistö in Stockholm on Tuesday. He had previously arrived in the Swedish capital for a two-day state visit.
The challenges posed by the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine presented “opportunities for consensus and deeper cooperation to come together even more,” the monarch said. Niinistö added: “Our security policy has been similar for a long time. And even now, if the situation calls for it, we take steps together.” The Finnish president is expected to sign his country’s application for membership during the state visit to Stockholm.
Lavrov doesn’t see much difference
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sees little difference if Sweden and Finland join NATO. The two countries, like other neutral states, have been participating in NATO maneuvers for years, he says. “NATO takes its territory into account when planning military advances to the east. So in that sense there probably isn’t much of a difference. Let’s see how their territory is being used in practice in the North Atlantic Alliance,” Lavrov said.
Moscow accuses the West of “war”.
The Kremlin accused the West of waging war against Russia. “They are hostile states. Because what they are doing is war,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at an education conference in Moscow on Tuesday. President Vladimir Putin had previously spoken of an economic “lightning war” in view of Western sanctions. The Russian leadership is calling its own war of aggression against Ukraine , which has now lasted almost three months, a ‘special military operation’.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
