Sweden makes it official as foreign minister signs formal request to join Nato

SWEDEN yesterday signed a formal request to join Nato, a day after the country announced it would seek membership in the 30-member military alliance.

In neighbouring Finland, lawmakers are expected to formally endorse Finnish leaders’ decision also to join.

The moves by the two Nordic countries, ending Sweden’s more than 200 years of military non-alignment and Finland’s non-alignment after the Second World War, have provoked the ire of the Kremlin.

While most Nato members are keen to welcome the two countries as quickly as possible, Turkey has potentially complicated their accession by saying it cannot allow them to become members because of their perceived inaction against exiled Kurdish militants.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeated comments fromn last week indicating the two Nordic countries’ path to join Nato would be anything but smooth.

All 30 current Nato countries must agree to open the door to new members. Mr Erdogan accused Sweden and Finland of refusing to extradite “terrorists” wanted by his country.

In Stockholm, Swedish foreign minister Ann Linde signed the formal request to join the alliance, which she said would be sent to Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg.

“It feels like we have taken a decision that is the best for Sweden,” she said.

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto arrived in Sweden for an official visit and was welcomed by Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, who had invited him.