BRUSSELS (AP) – Two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine persuaded a reluctant population to seek safety under the alliance, the Swedish flag was raised Monday at NATO headquarters, marking the 32nd The Nordic countries consolidated their status as members of the security umbrella.
In the pouring rain, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Crown Princess Victoria and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg wore a blue flag with a yellow cross in the ring of the official flag at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels. I looked at two soldiers holding a flag.
“Russia’s brutal all-out invasion of Ukraine has united Sweden behind the conclusion that full-fledged NATO membership is the only rational option,” Kristersson said. Swedish government ministers and party leaders, regardless of their political affiliations, attended the event in a show of national unity.
Sweden officially joined NATO on March 7, securing decades of neutrality after World War II. Neighboring Finland has already joined in April 2023, another historic move to end years of military non-alignment.
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – MARCH 11: Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden (CR), Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (CL) and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (C) attend the Swedish NATO Military Ceremony in Brussels. Attended the flag-raising ceremony to commemorate formal membership in the Alliance. , March 11, 2024, Belgium. (Photo: Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu, Getty Images)
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – MARCH 11: Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg attend the Swedish Ceremony Ceremony held on March 11, 2024 in Brussels, Belgium. Attended the flag-raising ceremony to commemorate Japan’s official entry into the NATO military alliance. (Photo) By Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The Finnish Ministry of Defense welcomed “our comrades-in-arms” and wrote on Twitter: “We are now at the beginning of a new era. In times of peace, in times of crisis, and beyond. Along with other allies.”
On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to order the dispatch of troops to Ukraine completely changed public opinion in both countries, and within three months, both countries became the world’s largest security organizations. applied to participate.
Putin claimed he started the war, at least in part, because of NATO’s eastward expansion into Russia. However, the war had a negative impact and more countries joined the alliance. NATO leaders almost certainly won’t join while the conflict rages, but Ukraine itself has pledged to join at some point.
“When President Putin launched a full-scale invasion two years ago, he wanted to reduce NATO and tighten his control over neighboring countries. He wanted to destroy Ukraine as a sovereign state but failed. “We did,” Stoltenberg said.
“NATO is now bigger and stronger. Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before, and we stand by our brave Ukrainians as they continue to fight for their freedom.”
Sweden’s accession completes the strategic ring of NATO territory surrounding the Baltic Sea. The country currently benefits from the collective security of the Alliance (Article 5 of the Treaty). This is a pledge that all will respond to an attack on one of them.
“We chose you and you chose us. All for one and one for all,” Christerson said, adding that his country is committed to the values enshrined in the Treaty of Washington, which founded NATO. I swore to protect my vision.
The flag-raising ceremony took place as 20,000 troops from 13 countries conducted NATO training in the northern highlands of new member Sweden, neighboring Finland and Norway.
The Nordic exercise is part of a broader exercise called Steadfast Defender 24, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) largest exercise in decades, in which the alliance spans all of its territory from North America to its borders. Up to 90,000 troops will be involved over several months to demonstrate to adversaries that they can defend themselves. Together with Russia.
“We are humble but proud at the same time. We know that expectations are high for Sweden, but we also have high expectations for ourselves,” Kristersson said minutes before the ceremony. told reporters. “We will share the burden, responsibility and risk with our allies.”
Sweden sends a well-trained and equipped army. The country has worked closely with NATO during military exercises for years, and even more so since the start of Russia’s all-out war. Sweden also meets NATO’s defense spending target of 2% of gross domestic product.
