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INAUGURAL: In pouring rain, the Swedish flag was raised to the top outside NATO headquarters in Brussels in front of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Photo: AP / NTB
With horn music and stiff salutes, the Swedish flag was raised to the top outside NATO’s headquarters in Brussels.
Short version:
- Sweden officially became part of NATO, and marked this with a ceremony in Brussels where the Swedish flag was raised alongside the flags of the other member states.
- NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg stated that Sweden’s membership is good for the alliance and emphasized the importance of Nordic defense cooperation, which is the closest since the Kalmar Union.
The summary is generated by artificial intelligence, but read through by a journalist.
A few minutes past 12 o’clock, in pouring rain and to the tune of the Swedish national anthem, the blue and yellow flag was raised, both in Brussels and throughout NATO.
– Welcome to NATO. This is a historic day, said NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg ahead of the symbolic ceremony.
– The flag will now hang here with the support of all political Sweden, said Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
Sweden fielded a large delegation in Brussels. Both Crown Princess Victoria, Foreign Minister Tobias Billström, Defense Minister Pål Jonson and Chief of Defense Michael Bydén were present.
In addition to Kristersson, the leaders of the five largest parties in Sweden were also present.
– Sweden is now part of NATO – a proud member and ally, together with our closest friends and partners, said Kristersson, who extends special thanks to Stoltenberg:
– Without your tireless efforts, we would not be standing here today.
– Good for the alliance
Stoltenberg said that Sweden has long been a partner, and that it is now an ally that has taken its rightful place at the NATO table.
– Joining NATO is good for Sweden and good for the alliance. This is a historic day, said the NATO chief.
NUMBER 32: The Swedish flag will henceforth hang between Spain and Turkey outside NATO’s headquarters in Brussels. Photo: AP / NTB
Along with Sweden, NATO has 32 member states.
The Swedish flag will henceforth fly side by side with Turkey’s flag, as if by an irony of fate.
For many months, Turkey stood on the back foot for Sweden’s entry into NATO.
As the flags hang in alphabetical order, Sweden ends up between Spain and Turkey.
First time since the Kalmar Union
Stoltenberg says Sweden’s entry is particularly important for the Nordic countries and the Baltics.
– This is a big day for NATO, but not least for Nordic defense cooperation. It is the first time since the Kalmar Union in the 14th-15th centuries that the Nordic countries have a common defence, said Stoltenberg, who devoted a large part of his speech to again stressing the importance of continuing support for Ukraine.
THANKS TO STOLTENBERG: Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Sweden would not have become a member of NATO without Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Photo: Geert Vanden Wijngaert / AP / NTB
The NATO chief stressed that Sweden has first-class military capabilities and a large defense industry, which they are now bringing with them into the alliance.
According to the Nato chief, Sweden has first-class military capabilities which it is now bringing to the alliance. Capability in a military context means performance.
Sweden is among the countries that achieve NATO’s two percent target by spending more than two percent of the country’s gross domestic product on defence.
Ukraina neste?
Russia has previously threatened reactions if Sweden joins NATO.
– We have to be on guard. Russia will be a threat for the foreseeable future, Kristersson said.
At the same time, Stoltenberg says that there are no immediate threats against any NATO country.
– It is for the simple reason that NATO is there, he said.
Ukraine may become NATO’s 33rd member state.
– Ukraine wants to become a NATO member. The question is not if, but when, said Stoltenberg.
Had to wait
Sweden had to wait a long time for its NATO application to be approved, first by Turkey and then by Hungary.
Only on Thursday last week were all the papers signed and delivered to the USA, and Sweden could be formally declared a NATO member.
Sweden applied for NATO membership together with Finland in May 2022. On 4 April last year, Finland became a NATO member, while Sweden therefore had to wait almost a year longer.
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