Highlights: Sweden is now the 32nd member country of NATO and this is a considerable change for a kingdom which had maintained its neutrality since 1814. Sweden managed to stay away from the great earthquakes of the 20th century, but the invasion of Ukraine will have tipped it to the side of the Atlantic Alliance. It has no land border with Russia, but it is now part of the eastern flank of the Alliance facing the Russian territory of Kaliningrad/Königsberg. For Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Sweden is now “ better protected against Russian evil ”

It is now done, Sweden is officially a member of NATO. The Swedish Prime Minister went to Washington this Thursday March 7 to deposit the “instruments” of his accession (that is to say…

Sweden is now officially part of the Atlantic Alliance

It is now done, Sweden is officially a member of NATO.

The Swedish Prime Minister went to Washington this Thursday March 7 to deposit the “instruments” of his accession (that is to say the legal documents), because this is where the treaty establishing the Atlantic Alliance was signed .

For the political-military organization, it is an enlargement which is not only symbolic and which is the result of a long process.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken receives NATO ratification documents from Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson during a ceremony at the State Department in Washington, this Thursday March 7, 2024. AFP - ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS

By: RFI Follow

Sweden

is now the 32nd member country of NATO

and this is a considerable change for a kingdom which had maintained its neutrality since

1814.

Sweden managed to stay away from the great earthquakes of the 20th century, but the invasion of Ukraine

will

have tipped it to the side of the Atlantic Alliance.

It has no land border with Russia

but it is now part of the eastern flank of the Alliance facing the Russian territory of Kaliningrad/Königsberg.

Its membership in NATO has been on hold for a long time since its application was submitted in May 2022, less than three months after the invasion of Ukraine.

It was necessary to first overcome the bargaining imposed by Turkey and then the procrastination of Hungary.

In practice, Sweden was already largely integrated into NATO, its soldiers participated in numerous allied missions including that in Afghanistan.

For two years, its ambassador has already been invited to the North Atlantic Council, the highest Allied body, there will now be the right to vote.

For Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Sweden is now “

better protected against Russian evil

”.

Read alsoSweden's entry into the Atlantic Alliance strengthens NATO's defense strategy in the region

Sweden is now officially part of the Atlantic Alliance

Sweden is now officially part of the Atlantic Alliance

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