Sweden’s Prime Minister says that an effort to join NATO would destabilize northern Europe
Sweden’s center-left prime minister has ruled out applying to join NATO and says membership would destabilize security in northern Europe.
Following an increase in Swedish support for joining the military alliance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the opposition’s center-right party leader has once again called on the government to start a discussion on a possible NATO membership. But the Social Democratic Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson rejected the requests for talks.
“If Sweden were to choose to submit its membership application in the current situation, it would further destabilize security in this particular region in Europe and increase tensions in Europe, and Sweden would contribute to further destabilizing the situation,” she said on Tuesday.
Her comments are in contrast to neighboring Finland, where Middle Prime Minister Sanna Marin has promised a quick and comprehensive debate among party leaders on whether the country should join NATO.
Sweden and Finland are the only two of the Nordic-Baltic countries that are not members of NATO, and public opinion in both countries has fluctuated sharply in favor of membership in the military alliance.
No country is neutral anymore since they joined the EU and both have close military partnerships with both NATO and the United States.
Some Swedish commentators criticized Andersson’s choice of words, even though the Social Democrats’ opposition to NATO membership is long-standing. Anna Dahlberg, political editor of the tabloid Expressen, quoted the Prime Minister’s use of the word “destabilizing”: “Why does the Prime Minister accept the Kremlin’s perspective?”
But while it has long been assumed that Sweden would lead in bringing the two countries into NATO, it increasingly seems as if Finland, with half the population, is leading the way.
Marine sa on Monday during a visit to neighboring Estonia: “We are moving fast, although these discussions will be thorough.”
Ulf Kristersson, leader of Sweden’s largest opposition party, the Moderates, said on Tuesday that Finland set the pace for its country and called on Stockholm to discuss a possible membership. “We are in a completely new situation and therefore, just like in Finland, we need to make a new analysis of what best serves Sweden’s interests,” added Kristersson, a supporter of NATO membership.
Victory for Sweden’s opposition parties in the parliamentary elections in September may turn the political argument in favor of talks about joining the alliance.
An opinion poll last week showed that a majority of Finns supported joining NATO for the first time.
Party and parliamentary leaders are set for talks again this week with President Sauli Niinisto, who has previously urged them to keep a cool head on the issue. Swedish opinion polls have also in recent days shown either a majority or a plurality – more for than against – for membership.
The increased support comes when Finns and Swedes react to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, also a non-NATO member. NATO countries have offered Kyiv weapons and moral support but have so far been reluctant to provide troops or enforce a no-fly zone required by Ukrainian officials.
Leaders in the Baltic countries are particularly keen to include Finland and Sweden in NATO due to their strategic location. With a length of 1,340 km, Finland has the longest border of any EU country with Russia, while analysts believe that Sweden’s island of Gotland could function as an aircraft carrier in the middle of the Baltic Sea.
Kaja Kallas, Estonia’s Prime Minister, told Marin that she could allay fears that joining NATO would weaken Finland’s security. “The accession of Finland and Sweden would strengthen NATO, but I think it would also strengthen Finland and Sweden’s own security,” she added.