Sweden will not join NATO now : PM Andersson
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has rejected opposition calls to consider joining NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
She said an application now would destabilise security in Europe.
Sweden has not been in a war since 1814 and has built its foreign policy on non-participation in military alliances.
But it has forged ever-closer ties to NATO in recent years as tensions with Russia in the Baltic region have risen.
Russia’s invasion, which it calls a “special military operation”, has renewed calls for Sweden to join NATO, alongside Finland, which has also remained outside the bloc.
“If Sweden were to choose to send in an application to join NATO in the current situation, it would further destabilise this area of Europe and increase tensions,” Andersson told reporters.
“I have been clear during this whole time in saying that what is best for Sweden’s security and for the security of this region of Europe is that the government has a long-term, consistent and predictable policy and that is my continued belief.”
Russia does not want Finland or Sweden to join NATO and late last month, Moscow made its latest warning of “serious military-political consequences” if they did.
Andersson was speaking after meeting opposition party leaders to discuss the worsening security situation.
A poll on Friday by Demoskop and commissioned by Aftonbladet newspaper showed 51% of Swedes were in favour of NATO membership, up from 42% in January. Read More…
