Sweden has become the 32nd member of NATO, with the diplomatic community calling it a ‘historic’ day. The accession process was completed with the Swedish prime minister handing over the final paperwork in Washington.
After two centuries of neutrality and two years of diplomacy, Sweden officially became the 32nd member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Thursday, the US government said.
Both the Swedish and US governments had indicated earlier in the day that the process would be finalized on Thursday during Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s visit to Washington.
“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,” the Swedish prime minister’s official account said in a post on X.
US President Joe Biden said he was “honored to welcome” Sweden as the alliance’s newest member, adding that transatlantic security was stronger than ever.
A ‘historic’ day for NATO alliance
Sweden’s NATO accession went into effect after Sweden’s “instrument of accession” to the alliance was officially deposited at the State Department.
“This is a historic moment for Sweden. It’s historic for alliance. It’s history for the transatlantic relationship,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at the accession ceremony.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wrote on X that “Sweden’s accession makes NATO stronger, Sweden safer, and the whole Alliance more secure.”
Courtesy of DW