Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats to decide on Nato bid on May 15
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has overturn decades of opposition to membership of Western defence alliance
09 May 2022 - 17:57
bySimon Johnson
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Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson. Picture: MICHELE TANTUSSI/REUTERS
Stockholm — Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats will decide on May 15 whether to overturn decades of opposition to Nato membership, the party said on Monday, a move that would almost certainly lead to Sweden asking to join the 30-nation alliance.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sparked an urgent rethink of security policy in both Sweden and Finland. The Finnish president, Sauli Niinisto, is expected to announce his support for an application this week.
Niinisto’s announcement, on May 12, would trigger what is likely to be a busy couple of weeks during which the map of northern Europe’s security architecture could be redrawn.
“What the decision is going to be is not decided yet today,” Social Democrat party secretary Tobias Baudin told Swedish public service radio SR. “Our message is that on May 15 there will be a decision for the party leadership to take a position on.”
The Social Democrats — the biggest party in Sweden for the past 100 years lead by Magdalena Andersson — are holding three digital party meetings this week to canvass members’ opinion on Nato membership ahead of the final decision by the leadership at the weekend.
Meanwhile, parliament is holding a parallel, all-party review of security policy, which is due to report on May 13.
“I want to have that on the table before I make a decision,” Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said in a debate on Nato on Swedish TV on Sunday.
A formal application to join NATO could be made at the alliance's June summit in Madrid and is likely to be fast-tracked, though getting the signatures of all 30 alliance members could take up to a year.
Military non-alignment has long been a policy bedrock for many Swedes and while support for Nato membership has been growing sharply — most polls in recent months have shown a clear majority in favour — many still remain uncertain.
A decision to seek Nato membership would be sure to anger Moscow, which has threatened to station nuclear weapons in Kaliningrad, across the sea from Sweden.
The Left and Green parties have rejected calls for membership, while the rest of the opposition wants to go ahead.
“Ask Ukraine if they would have preferred to be in Nato,” Ulf Kristersson, the leader of the Moderates, the biggest opposition party, said during the Nato debate.
“We have to seek common protection together with other democracies and stand up for our common values.”
Reuters
Russia's leader says the country’s troops were fighting “for the security of our homeland Russia”.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats to decide on Nato bid on May 15
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has overturn decades of opposition to membership of Western defence alliance
Stockholm — Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats will decide on May 15 whether to overturn decades of opposition to Nato membership, the party said on Monday, a move that would almost certainly lead to Sweden asking to join the 30-nation alliance.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sparked an urgent rethink of security policy in both Sweden and Finland. The Finnish president, Sauli Niinisto, is expected to announce his support for an application this week.
Niinisto’s announcement, on May 12, would trigger what is likely to be a busy couple of weeks during which the map of northern Europe’s security architecture could be redrawn.
“What the decision is going to be is not decided yet today,” Social Democrat party secretary Tobias Baudin told Swedish public service radio SR. “Our message is that on May 15 there will be a decision for the party leadership to take a position on.”
The Social Democrats — the biggest party in Sweden for the past 100 years lead by Magdalena Andersson — are holding three digital party meetings this week to canvass members’ opinion on Nato membership ahead of the final decision by the leadership at the weekend.
Meanwhile, parliament is holding a parallel, all-party review of security policy, which is due to report on May 13.
“I want to have that on the table before I make a decision,” Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said in a debate on Nato on Swedish TV on Sunday.
A formal application to join NATO could be made at the alliance's June summit in Madrid and is likely to be fast-tracked, though getting the signatures of all 30 alliance members could take up to a year.
Military non-alignment has long been a policy bedrock for many Swedes and while support for Nato membership has been growing sharply — most polls in recent months have shown a clear majority in favour — many still remain uncertain.
A decision to seek Nato membership would be sure to anger Moscow, which has threatened to station nuclear weapons in Kaliningrad, across the sea from Sweden.
The Left and Green parties have rejected calls for membership, while the rest of the opposition wants to go ahead.
“Ask Ukraine if they would have preferred to be in Nato,” Ulf Kristersson, the leader of the Moderates, the biggest opposition party, said during the Nato debate.
“We have to seek common protection together with other democracies and stand up for our common values.”
Reuters
Russia's leader says the country’s troops were fighting “for the security of our homeland Russia”.
UK defence secretary accuses Putin of ‘mirroring fascism’
Putin justifies invasion as fighting continues in Ukraine
Germany defence minister agrees to send howitzers to Ukraine
Russia threatens cruise missile attacks against Nato arms shipments
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