Sweden’s NATO debate is entering a decisive phase – POLITICO
STOCKHOLM – Sweden’s debate on NATO membership went up in a higher gear on Friday with a meeting with the ruling Social Democratic Party leader to discuss a potential application to join the military alliance.
The six-hour meeting in Stockholm with the party’s board member marked the start of what is expected to be an approximately four-week consultation period before the Social Democrats make a final decision, which is expected on May 24 or around.
More personal meetings of the party’s leadership are planned as well as online debates with local party members.
– It is very important and positive that we gather for talks as we do today, said Minister of the Environment Annika Strandhäll to reporters on their way to the meeting in the Riksdag. “We also have a dialogue going on in the party to let members be part of the discussion,” she said.
The outcome of the Social Democrats’ internal talks will in all probability be decisive for whether Sweden applies to join NATO or not, in what would be the country’s largest foreign policy change since joining the EU in 1995.
While Sweden’s three center-right opposition parties swung after joining the Western defense alliance – and its central concept of mutual defense – several years ago, the Social Democrats have remained skeptical and blocked every step towards accession.
Leading Social Democrats – from Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist to Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson – have so far declined to comment on whether they have changed their minds in light of Russia’s attack on Ukraine and would now return.
But there have been indications that the party’s opposition to such a measure is easing.
– There is clearly a time before and after February 24, Andersson says sa in a recent speech, referring to the date of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A investigation of the meter Novus, which was published this week, showed 51 percent support among the Swedish public for a NATO application.
Follows Finland
Developments in Sweden reflect a similar process that is taking place in neighboring Finland, where the Social Democratic Prime Minister Sanna Marin will formally announce her party’s position on a NATO application in the coming weeks.
Statements by leading Social Democrats in the Finnish parliament this week indicated that the Marine Party is in favor of an application for membership and that the country can take the step before the summer.
“We in Finland have not formally made a decision, but it is already clear that there is a large majority in parliament who want to see Finland join NATO fairly quickly,” said Erkki Tuomioja, Finnish Social Democrat and former Foreign Minister, during a visit to Stockholm. this week.
Last week, Finland published a policy document covering the pros and cons of NATO membership, which led to Call from Swedish opposition legislators for Sweden to gain momentum.
On Thursday, the Swedish government said that a cross-policy report on defense policy – including a discussion on NATO membership – would be released on 13 May instead of 31 May.
The Social Democrats’ digital meetings with local members will be held on 9, 10 and 12 May, while a number of high-ranking party figures, including Foreign Minister Ann Linde and her predecessor Margot Wallström, will give speeches for local party groups.
“They have been chosen because they are key figures who have respect and credibility in our party, and also because they know about this issue,” Social Democrat party secretary Tobias Baudin said on Friday.