WASHINGTON, United States: After two centuries of non-alignment and two years of hectic diplomacy, Sweden will finally become NATO’s 32nd member today (Thursday).
It’s a big step for a country that was once careful not to anger Russia. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is in Washington, where Foreign Minister Antony Blinken will formally receive the instrument of ratification after an uphill battle to secure the necessary green light from all NATO members.
Kristersson is likely to attend President Joe Biden’s annual State of the Union address later in the day, where he will try to convince rival Republicans to approve new aid to Ukraine.
Sweden’s blue and golden yellow flag will be raised at the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Brussels on Monday.
Russia has vowed to take “reciprocal measures” against Sweden’s entry into NATO, especially if the alliance forces and assets are stationed there.
Sweden and Finland are both militarily intertwined with the United States and members of the European Union, but have historically avoided full membership in NATO, which was formed during the Cold War to unite against the Soviet Union.
Sweden has not been involved in a war since the Napoleonic conflicts of the early 19th century, including World War II.
But Finland and Sweden launched a combined effort after, in 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, which had unsuccessfully sought to join the alliance. The alliance considers an attack on one member an attack on all.
Finland joined in April 2023. Sweden’s candidacy has been stalled by aggressive pressure from Turkey, which wants Stockholm, known for its liberal asylum policies, to crack down on Kurdish militias running an anti-Turkish movement.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for action after protesters, who enjoy Sweden’s free speech laws, desecrated Islam’s holy book, the Koran.
Even though it has not been explicitly announced, the US has cut off the possibility of sending F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, which has been angered by US sanctions over large military purchases from Russia.
In January, the Biden administration approved the $23 billion F-16 fighter jets to Turkey after confirming Sweden’s membership.
