Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
ABC News
Sweden officially joins NATO, ending longstanding military neutrality
By Jesse ConvertinoShannon K. Crawford,
2024-03-07
Sweden's arduous path to joining the NATO alliance came to a successful close Thursday, as the Swedish prime minister and foreign minister deposited the country's "instrument of accession" at the State Department in Washington.
In a lighthearted ceremony, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken posed for photos with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, with the two holding a blue folder containing the document. Blinken quipped, "Well, good things come to those who wait."
"With receipt of this instrument of accession, let me be the very first to welcome Sweden as a party to the Washington Treaty and the 32nd member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization," Blinken continued.
Jess Rapfogel/AP - PHOTO: Secretary of State Antony Blinken stands with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson holding Sweden's NATO Instruments of Accession at the State Department, Mar. 7, 2024, in Washington.
Blinken remarked on Sweden's longstanding military neutrality, and how the country was moved to end its tradition after Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022. Sweden was called to defend democracy and recognized the existential threat Russia's aggression presented to European nations, he said.
"None of this was easy, none of this was obvious," Blinken said, adding it had taken "nearly two years of tireless diplomacy" to add Sweden to the alliance.
Andrew Caballero-reynolds/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson speaks during the NATO ratification ceremony with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the US State Department, as Sweden formally joins the North Atlantic alliance, in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2024.
"Sweden is now a NATO member," Kristersson said on X earlier. "Thank you all Allies for welcoming us as the 32nd member. We will strive for unity, solidarity and burden-sharing, and will fully adhere to the Washington Treaty values: freedom, democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. Stronger together."
Sweden's membership had been slowed by objections from Turkey and Hungary. The U.S. was able to eventually incentivize Turkey by approving the sale of fighter jets to the country, and Hungary signed off on Sweden's addition this week.
"This is a historic day," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement . "Sweden will now take its rightful place at NATO's table, with an equal say in shaping NATO policies and decisions. After over 200 years of non-alignment Sweden now enjoys the protection granted under Article 5, the ultimate guarantee of Allies' freedom and security. Sweden brings with it capable armed forces and a first-class defense industry."
Sweden's flag will be raised alongside those of the other 31 Allies in a ceremony at NATO headquarters in Brussels on March 11 and simultaneously at NATO commands across Europe and North America, the alliance said.
-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman contributed to this story.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0