Sweden's NATO application was signed and approved by Turkish President Erdogan on Thursday evening and now only Ungen's ratification remains.
After Commander-in-Chief Micael Bydén's and Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin's (M) statements about the real threats of war against Sweden, many are asking how the promise that membership protects the country and the ÖB's call to prepare for wartime go together.
Erik Melander believes that NATO membership means that we must continue to prepare for war precisely to avoid fighting a war. A defense alliance is based on deterrence.
- I think it will be somewhat the same mentality as it was during the Cold War, we will have to be prepared, says Melander.
Will Sweden become safer in NATO?
The second reason why the reasoning about preparation for war and membership in NATO go together is that a process to prepare Sweden for a possible war takes time, according to Melander.
NATO is a very successful defense alliance, no NATO country has been attacked, says Melander.
- NATO is in a much more dangerous situation now than a number of years ago and it will be a dangerous situation for a number of years to come. But one can argue that Sweden would be even more vulnerable outside the alliance in such a situation.
Russian threats in the NATO process
When Sweden applied for membership in the defense alliance, there was a clearer threat from Russia than before.
- It became more dangerous when Sweden stated that it wanted to become a member of NATO, but at the same time there were guarantees and statements that Sweden would receive protection during the application period.
Melander says that a previous problem with Sweden's relationship with NATO has been that defense cooperation between Sweden and NATO countries became more open over time.
- Sweden has not had any guarantees in the past despite clear collaborations, says Melander.