The Nordic country of Sweden on Thursday (March 7) ended its neutrality, which lasted for decades after World War II, and became the 32nd member of NATO. The key Western military alliance is now facing the third year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson was in Washington, D.C., to attend a ceremony at the U.S. State Department to formally present the “instrument of accession” to NATO.
Later the same day, Kristersson plans to visit the White House, and in the evening as Joe Biden (Joe Biden) President’s guest at the Biden to Congress, “State of the Union” speech.
In a statement, Biden said that when Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022, “he thought he would be able to weaken Europe and split NATO. Instead, in May 2022, Sweden and Finland – two of our close partners and with lean armies – made the historic decision to apply for full NATO membership.”
“With Sweden’s admission today,” Biden said, “NATO is more united, determined, and energized than ever before – and today a formidable array of 32 nations.”
“Today, we reaffirm once again our shared democratic values – and our willingness to stand up in defense of those values – that make NATO the greatest military alliance in the history of the world. ” Biden said. “It draws nations to our cause, and it sustains our unity.”
In his address to Congress, Biden is expected to mention Sweden’s decision to join NATO and call on reluctant Republican lawmakers to approve an additional $60 billion in aid to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed Sweden to NATO. Ukraine also hopes to join NATO after the war ends.
In his evening speech, Zelenskyy said, “Today, it is important to mention that yet another European country is more protected in the face of Russian evil.”
Sweden’s accession to NATO has been delayed by opposition from NATO members Turkey and Hungary.
Turkey has expressed concern about Sweden’s acceptance and tolerance of Kurdish organizations it considers terrorists, and Hungary’s populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban has shown pro-Russian sentiments and does not share the NATO alliance’s determination to support Ukraine.
After months of delays, Turkey approved Sweden’s membership earlier this year, and Hungary did so only in recent days.
