Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats can speed up the party’s NATO decision
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STOCKHOLM, May 4 (Reuters) – The leadership of Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats will hold an extra meeting on May 15 where they can decide whether the party should change policy and support an application to join NATO, said party secretary Tobias Baudin on Wednesday.
With a majority in the Riksdag that supports joining the alliance, the Social Democrats, the largest party in every election for the past 100 years, are seen as the major obstacle to an application.
– The party leadership could choose to make a decision then, Baudin says to the news agency TT.
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is called a “special operation”, has forced a reconsideration of security policy in Sweden and Finland, both of which remained outside NATO during the Cold War.
Both countries are expected to make a decision on whether to apply to the alliance of 30 nations in the coming weeks. Read more
Sweden’s parliamentary parties are conducting a joint review of security policy, which is expected to report on 13 May. Read more
The Social Democrats are conducting a separate policy review.
Earlier, the party has said that they will announce a decision by May 24, when the leadership will hold a meeting.
However, Sweden is coordinating with Finland – its neighbor and closest defense partner – on the issue of NATO membership, and Helsinki is seen to be moving faster than Stockholm. Read more
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has said that the two countries will make separate decisions, but that what Finland decides will have a major impact on Sweden.
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Reporting by Simon Johnson and Johan Ahlander; Editing by Sandra Maler
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