International Intelligence Bureau: NATO puts together another "piece of the puzzle", but this country may be in crisis!

　　China News Service, March 8 (Zhang Naiyue) On the 7th local time, Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson submitted the documents for Sweden's membership of NATO to Secretary of State Blinken of the United States, the custodian of NATO documents.

This marks that Sweden, originally one of the seven internationally recognized permanently neutral countries, has officially become the 32nd member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

File photo: Swedish and NATO flags.

　　The Secretary-General of NATO has said that Sweden's membership will make NATO "stronger and more secure."

However, as a product of the Cold War and a regional military organization, NATO has long held a zero-sum game and confrontational mentality, constantly disturbing the regional security situation.

Some analysts pointed out that at a time when NATO is successfully expanding, Sweden may fall into crisis and become a "frontline country" facing tensions.

Two hundred years of history of neutrality, the road to "entering the treaty" once

　　According to a statement released on NATO's official website, Sweden deposited the instrument to join the North Atlantic Treaty with the United States on the 7th and became a new member of NATO.

　　According to Agence France-Presse, Sweden began to adopt a policy of neutrality at the end of the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century. After the end of the "Cold War", its neutrality policy was modified to military non-alignment, and it has not participated in wars for more than 200 years.

　　However, after the Ukrainian crisis broke out in 2022, Sweden and Finland abandoned their long-standing military non-alignment policy and began to work together to apply to join NATO.

　　Initially, Finland and Sweden’s applications for “treaty accession” were opposed by Turkey and Hungary.

According to regulations, NATO can only admit new members with the "unanimous consent" of all member states.

　　After multiple rounds of negotiations and coordination, Finland was approved to join NATO in April 2023.

Since then, under pressure from the United States and its NATO allies, Sweden received approval from Turkey and Hungary in early 2024 and immediately joined the NATO military alliance.

NATO has assembled the "last piece of the puzzle" in Northern Europe. What about Sweden?

　　Dalsjo, an analyst at the Swedish Defense Research Institute (FOI), pointed out that Sweden, as "the last piece of the puzzle for NATO on the Nordic map," has now been put together.

　　On the same day, U.S. President Biden said in a statement that Sweden's joining "makes NATO stronger than ever."

Data map: US President Biden.

　　Ukrainian President Zelensky also welcomed Sweden's "entry into the Treaty" and expressed the hope that Ukraine can also join NATO in the future.

　　The Wilson Center, a US think tank, said Sweden's membership will enhance NATO's military strength. The country has at least 100 fighter jets and is the largest air force in Northern Europe.

In addition, Sweden's defense industry will help improve NATO's military industrial capabilities.

　　Bloomberg said that Finland and Sweden have advanced equipment and well-trained troops, and the equipment of the two countries is compatible with existing NATO equipment.

With their inclusion, NATO will be able to "better monitor Russia."

　　In addition, some analysts pointed out that after joining NATO, Sweden may become the hub of military activities in northern Europe and a key logistics center for NATO's northeastern defense.

　　However, the impact of abandoning neutrality and joining NATO on Sweden may be much more complicated.

　　Swedish Radio pointed out in a report that if a conflict breaks out on NATO's northern border, foreign troops, weapons, ammunition and fuel will be transported across Sweden, which may increase the threat to Sweden from long-range weapon systems such as missiles and drones.

　　Swedish Minister of Civil Defense Karl-Oscar Bohling and Commander-in-Chief of the Swedish Armed Forces Mikael Biden have both expressed concerns about Sweden being drawn into the war.

"We need to realize how serious this situation is and everyone needs to be mentally prepared," Biden said.

　　Jan Oberg, founder of the Swedish Transnational Peace and Future Research Foundation, previously said that Sweden's membership of NATO is "irrational" and will reduce the sense of security of its citizens.

Sweden originally supported disarmament and denuclearization, but now it may become a frontline country involved in crises and tensions, and even become a victim of camp conflicts.

Will Russia’s strong protest cause major geopolitical consequences?

　　"Sweden's accession may have major geopolitical consequences." Spain's "El Pais" website pointed out in a report.

　　Agence France-Presse said that Sweden and Finland joining NATO means that the Baltic Sea is surrounded by NATO member states, and analysts call it a "NATO lake."

　　The New York Times also pointed out that the new members have greatly enhanced NATO’s deterrent capabilities in the Baltic and North Seas, making it easier for NATO to “restrict the Russian navy in the Baltic Sea and monitor the Arctic region.”

Data map: Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs building.

　　As a relic of the Cold War, NATO did not become history with the end of the Cold War. Instead, it continued to "expand eastward" and even started the process of "northern expansion" to absorb more countries after the crisis in Ukraine escalated.

Sweden's successful "accession" to the Treaty brought so-called "security" to NATO, but it also triggered strong protests and warnings from Russia and other countries.

　　The Russian Foreign Ministry has previously stated that Sweden has always maintained a neutral status, which is an important factor in maintaining stability and trust in the Baltic Sea region for decades.

Regarding Sweden’s accession to NATO, the Russian Embassy in Sweden once stated that “Russia will adopt political and military-technical response measures to eliminate the threat that Sweden’s accession to NATO poses to Russia’s national security.”

　　Russian President Vladimir Putin also said in his recent annual State of the Union address that with Sweden and Finland joining NATO, Russia will strengthen its armed forces on its western border to deal with "the threat of further NATO expansion."

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