Sweden will speed up the security review when Ukraine puts the NATO issue in the spotlight
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden will accelerate its review of security policy, which includes a view on possible NATO membership, with the result to be published in mid-May rather than at the end of that month, Foreign Minister Ann Linde said on Tuesday.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has prompted Sweden and neighboring Finland – none of which are members of NATO – to fight to respond to a more threatening security environment.
“We have agreed that we will bring forward the publication of the report until May 13. It is about two weeks earlier than we have said so far,” Linde told reporters after meeting leaders of Sweden’s other political parties.
“If Finland finally makes this decision (to join NATO), and everything points in that direction … it will, of course, have a major impact on our analysis,” she added.
Russia’s war in Ukraine, which is called a “special operation”, has forced Sweden and Finland to investigate whether their deep-rooted dependence on military neutrality is still the best way to ensure national security.
Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats, who have always opposed NATO membership, are reconsidering their position, and the all – parties’ security review can confirm that a majority of the Riksdag supports an application.
Earlier this week, the Finnish Parliament expressed support for joining some form of military alliance and a decision to apply for NATO membership is expected within a few weeks.
Finland is Sweden’s closest military ally. If Helsinki goes ahead with an application to join NATO, it would increase the pressure on Stockholm to follow suit.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto has held discussions with a number of NATO countries to ensure a smooth process should the country decide to apply for membership.
Linde said that Sweden has also done a “preparatory work” to ensure that all roads are open to Sweden. She declined to give further details.
Russia has repeatedly warned of serious consequences if Finland and Sweden join NATO, most recently saying that they would respond by deploying nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles to their Kaliningrad exclave, just 500 km from the Swedish capital.
(Reporting by Simon Johnson; Editing by Hugh Lawson)