Nato membership: Sweden´s Foreign Minister: A Historic Day for Sweden
Sweden's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ann Linde spoke at the 2019 Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty Article XIV Conference at United Nations Headquarters in New York,USA on 25 September 2019. (Foto: CTBTO)
Swedens application for membership in NATO has not been formally decided, but the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs already took to Twitter to share the news: "The Swedish government’s intent is to apply for NATO-membership. A historic day for Sweden".
On Monday, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden received information that the government intends to join NATO. In a statement on Twitter monday, Swedens Foreign Minister Ann Linde (S) confirms that Sweden wish to join the alliance, following Finlands statement Friday;
"The Swedish government’s intent is to apply for NATO-membership. A historic day for Sweden. With a broad support from political parties in the parliament, the conclusion is that Sweden will stand stronger together with allies in NATO."
Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson (S) will hold a press conference at 15.00 on Monday announcing the formal decicion.
To USA
Decisions on Sweden's application for NATO membership are made by the Government and not by the Riksdag. Minister of Defense Peter Hultqvist (S) said the decicion is made today, but that it is uncertain exactly when the application will be submitted.
Sunday, the Social Democrats said yes to a Swedish membership. The Moderates, Christian Democrats, Center Party and Liberals have been pushing for Swedish NATO membership for several years. The Left Party and the Green Party say no.
Sveriges riksdag also says in a statement that Peter Hultqvist is traveling to Washington today to meet his American colleague Lloyd Austin. Hultqvist is invited by the US Department of Defense Pentagon.
The focus of the deliberations is, according to the Swedish Ministry of Defense, Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the security situation in Europe, bilateral cooperation and Sweden's forthcoming application for membership in NATO. Hultqvist will also meet with members of the US Congress.
