Pentagon chief: Sweden in NATO would make the alliance better at defending itself
If Sweden were to join NATO, the addition would make the alliance “better at defending us”, said Defense Minister Lloyd Austin on Wednesday.
“Our two military personnel routinely train together. Your capabilities are modern, relevant and significant. And your addition to the alliance will make us all better at defending ourselves … it’s especially important at this crucial time,” Austin said before a meeting with his counterpart, Sweden’s Minister of Defense Peter Hultqvist, at the Pentagon.
Sweden together with the Nordic country Finland this week formally applied to join the organization with 30 members after Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine at the end of February.
NATO was created in the aftermath of World War II and has become a rallying point for international discussion since the Kremlin’s invasion, as the conflict has threatened to spread to countries near Russia’s and Ukraine’s borders.
Article 5 of the NATO Treaty states that an attack on a member will be interpreted as an attack on all members, providing some protection for Ukraine’s neighbors such as Poland.
Since the war began, Russian jets have violated Swedish and Finnish airspace, prompting the two countries to seek support and protection from the alliance.
The two new tenders have received full support from the Biden administration, where the highest national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Wednesday said that the United States is “certain” that Sweden and Finland will have a successful NATO alignment.
“Unanimously, President Biden’s national security team strongly supported the entry of Finland and Sweden into the NATO alliance on the grounds that they have already proven to be very capable security partners … they give much more than they take when it comes to a security partnership or alliance,” he said. Sullivan to reporters at the White House.
Austin repeated that message at the Pentagon and praised Stockholm for its support of Kyiv since the war began.
“Sweden has joined the United States and our allies and partners to expedite urgent security and humanitarian aid to the brave people of Ukraine,” Austin said. “And your leadership has contributed to renewed determination and determination to the Swedish defense and security establishment.”
Hultqvist said at the same time that even though the American and Swedish military have worked together before, Russia’s invasion has caused things to change.
Moscow “strives to change the European and global security order”, and its attack on Ukraine “poses a structural, long-term threat to European security,” he said.
“This is a time when democracies in Europe and North America must stand together against Russia’s naked aggression,” Hultqvist added.
President Biden will welcome the President of Finland and the Prime Minister of Sweden to the White House on Thursday to “coordinate the way forward” for the two countries that join NATO.
Although Article 5 protection does not begin until a country officially joins NATO, Sullivan said the United States and its allies “will not tolerate aggression” against Finland and Sweden during that process.
“The United States is ready to send a very clear message, as are all our European allies, that we will not tolerate any aggression against Finland or Sweden during this process. And there are practical steps we can take along the lines that Secretary Austin will take. coordinate with their counterparts in Finland and Sweden, ”said Sullivan.
Asked what that would mean, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby could not give any details but said the US military would like to have a discussion with Sweden and Finland “on security and capacity needs they may have to help secure them and for to deter Russia, it will be necessary “, during the NATO application process.