A milestone in the process, according to the prime minister.
Pleased, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
After Turkey’s yes to Sweden’s NATO application, the reactions were cheerful – but now Russia is responding.
– We will take political and military-technical countermeasures, says Maria Zacharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry.
On Tuesday, the Turkish parliament voted yes to Sweden’s application. Two days later, the documents were signed by President Erdogan and now only the papers are to be sent to Washington.
– We are not members of NATO yet. The Hungarian ratification process still remains, but it is gratifying that this part with Turkey is coming to an end, said Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M).
Happy faces from many quarters
Reactions to the announcement from Ankara came from many quarters, government leadership, party leaders and NATO representatives expressed their joy that the process of Turkey’s ratification was at an end. From the Russian side, the comments were delayed.
– The Russian reactions so far have been about NATO being powerless and Russia believes that it has beaten NATO in the war in Ukraine. So Sweden will not be raised as a new threat, said Lieutenant Colonel Joakim Paasikivi after the parliament approved Sweden’s application.
“Will not allow our security to be weakened”
At a press conference on Friday, the Russian response came from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ spokesperson, Maria Zacharova.
She says that Swedish membership in NATO will negatively affect stability in Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea area.
– Abandoning your long-standing military alliance and joining an openly anti-Russia group hardly strengthens the Swedes’ sense of security, says Zacharova and continues:
– We do not allow our security to be weakened. The Russian leadership has emphasized that.
Russia: Will take action
Zacharova also says that they will “take political and military-technical countermeasures” against Sweden. Exactly what types of measures it would be is not specified.
– The countermeasures are determined according to how Sweden is integrated into NATO, including the possible deployment of offensive NATO weapons and NATO troops, says Zacharova.
Hungary is now the last country that has not ratified Sweden’s NATO application. This week, Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán wrote on X that he had spoken with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and that his government supports the Swedish application.
“I also emphasized that we will continue to urge the Hungarian parliament to vote for Sweden’s accession and complete the ratification at the next possible opportunity,” Orbán wrote on X.