Sweden’s Prime Minister says “has not ruled out” NATO membership
Sweden’s Prime Minister said on Wednesday that she has not ruled out NATO membership in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, having so far insisted on her country’s policy of military non-alignment.
“I do not exclude NATO membership in any way,” Magdalena Andersson told Swedish public TV SVTand added that a review of the country’s security policy was underway.
“I want us to make a thorough analysis of our opportunities in this situation, of the threats and risks associated with them, in order to make the best decision for Sweden,” said the Social Democrats’ leader.
Sweden is not a member of NATO and is officially militarily non-aligned, even though it is a partner in the alliance. It abandoned its policy of neutrality after the end of the Cold War.
On February 24, the day Russia invaded Ukraine, Andersson had ruled out applying for membership.
– In a situation like this, it is important that Sweden’s long-standing security policy stands firm. That we are predictable and clear “, she said then.
On March 8, she sparked a debate when she said that a Swedish NATO application risked “destabilizing” the security situation in northern Europe.
Moscow is strongly opposed to Swedish or Finnish membership in the alliance.
In Sweden, support for NATO membership has skyrocketed since the start of the war in Ukraine, and around half of Swedes are now in favor, according to several opinion polls published since the beginning of March.
The proportion who are against membership has fallen to around 25-30 percent.
– This is something that many Swedes are thinking about right now. Of course I think about it a lot too, she says.
The issue is expected to be one of the biggest concerns of voters in the upcoming parliamentary elections in September.
Opposition leader Ulf Kristerssonfrom the right-wing party, the Moderates, has said that he plans to submit an application for membership in NATO if he wins a majority in the election.
The far-right Sweden Democrats, currently the country’s third largest party, have also said they are open to the idea of membership.
The Prime Minister’s Social Democrats have historically been opposed to joining NATO.
But if the current review were to conclude that it was in Sweden’s best interest to abandon its policy of military freedom of alliance, Andersson said that she “naturally” would change her party’s line.
The war in Ukraine has also led to a debate on NATO membership in neighboring Finland, where a security review is also underway.