Sweden now part of NATO after 2-year wait

WASHINGTON, D.C.: After two centuries of nonalignment and two years of torturous diplomacy, Sweden was set to become the 32nd member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Thursday, a major step for a country once careful not to anger Russia.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is in Washington, where United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken was set to ceremonially receive the ratification documents after the hardfought battle to secure the approvals needed from all NATO members.

The Nordic country’s blue-and-golden-yellow flag is expected to be hoisted at NATO’s headquarters in Belgium’s capital Brussels on Monday.

Russia has vowed “countermeasures” over Sweden’s entry into NATO, especially if the alliance’s troops and assets deploy in the country.

Sweden and Finland, while both militarily intertwined with the US and members of the European Union, have historically steered clear of officially joining NATO, formed in the Cold War to unite against the Soviet Union.

Sweden has not been involved in a war, including World War 2, since the Napoleonic conflicts of the early 19th century.

But Finland and Sweden launched a joint bid in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine, which had unsuccessfully sought to join NATO, which considers an attack on one member an attack on all.

Finland successfully joined in April 2023. Sweden’s candidacy stalled due to an assertive push by Turkey, which demanded that Stockholm, known for its liberal asylum policies, crack down on Kurdish militants who have campaigned against Ankara.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later demanded action after protesters, enjoying Swedish laws on free speech, desecrated the Quran, Islam’s holy book.

In a clear, if unstated, sweetener, the US dangled the prospect of F-16 warplanes to Turkey, which has faced the wrath of US sanctions over a major military purchase from Russia.

President Joe Biden’s administration approved in January $23 billion in F-16 warplanes to Turkey swiftly after it ratified Sweden’s membership.

Washington simultaneously pushed ahead with $8.6 billion in more advanced F-35 jets for Greece, a fellow NATO member that has a historic rivalry and frequent tensions with Turkey.

Even with Turkey’s blessing, Sweden faced another obstacle as it needed approval of a last country: Hungary, whose nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban has often thumbed his nose at Western allies.

The Hungarian parliament ratified Sweden’s membership on February 26. But in one last hiccup, Budapest could not formally sign the accession document due to a brief absence in the mostly ceremonial post of president, after an Orban ally resigned in a scandal over pardoning a convicted child abuser’s accomplice.

A recent poll by Swedish broadcaster SR said most Swedes believe their country made too many sacrifices to join NATO, although more than threequarters believed the alliance would strengthen the country’s security.