It is now hammered out in the Riksdag that Sweden will join NATO when all NATO members have ratified our application. It is a change of course that will seriously affect Sweden's international independence, says former Social Democratic Foreign Minister Margot Wallström in SVT's broadcast.

"We will no longer be perceived as a brave country that can make independent decisions. But we will be one of the NATO members and will be viewed with more skepticism by those countries that prefer to cooperate with countries that are militarily non-aligned. It's just a matter of stating," says Margot Wallström.

Bildt: No major difference

Former Moderate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt believes that the decision is historic, but unlike Wallström, he believes that the decision will not affect the view of Sweden in the outside world.

"We have gained an identity for good reason as an active member of the EU. The decisive step away from the old policy of neutrality was taken when we joined the EU. Then political nonalignment ceased. Now military nonalignment ceases, but that step is probably perceived by large parts of the outside world as significantly smaller, Bildt says.

"Hunsas by Erdogan"

Hungary and Turkey still have to ratify Sweden's application before we can become members. Margot Wallström's advice to the government is to do as Finland does in the NATO process and keep a cool head in the NATO process.

"And don't put up with being bullied around by Erdogan and others who want to use this for their own agendas," Wallström said.

Bildt disagrees with that criticism.

"It goes back to the fact that we have a different history than Finland. Things happened during the previous legislature, and earlier than that, that created significant problems in relations with Turkey that Finland had nowhere near at all. This has meant that there has been a need for Sweden to adjust the course and line more clearly. Finland has not had that need.