Sweden is in NATO, after an almost two-year long process. The entry became formal earlier on Thursday afternoon, when Ulf Kristersson handed over the final documents to the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
– It is a truly historic day. Sweden is now a member of NATO. We are humble but also proud, Kristersson said in his speech.
Clear: Sweden is now in NATO
Ulf Kristersson and Antony Blinken in the White House. Photo: Thomas Nilsson/TT How big are NATO’s forces?
NATO is a military defense alliance of the United States, Canada and European countries.
The organization NATO has almost no military resources of its own, but it is the NATO countries that stand up with their national military.
What protection does Sweden get in NATO?
Sweden will be covered by NATO’s defense guarantees, what is known as Article 5. This means that if a NATO country is attacked, it is seen as an attack on the entire alliance. All members are obliged to help the attacked country. The hope is that this will have such a deterrent effect that the enemy will not even think about it.
Can Swedish soldiers have to fight in other NATO countries?
Yes, if another NATO country is attacked.
Does Sweden have to equip itself now?
Sweden is already carrying out a major military build-up which is expected to continue.
NATO’s goal is that everyone should spend at least two percent of the country’s GDP on defense spending. According to NATO’s way of calculating, Sweden is already reaching that goal.
What does it cost to join NATO?
The members pay into the NATO budget, as a membership fee. For the Swedish part, it is expected to be around SEK 600 million a year.
Who decides in NATO?
NATO countries make joint decisions and all countries must agree. But in practice, the USA has the heaviest weight, both in terms of military strength and political weight.
Right now NATO is led by the Norwegian Jens Stoltenbergbut a Secretary-General cannot do anything that the Member States do not support.
Can conscripts be sent abroad?
Yes, if it is a NATO exercise and is part of the training. However, conscripts cannot participate in sharp operations.
What will apply in the future for conscripts who have completed their training and are stationed at war is not entirely clear. The issue is being reviewed.
Can NATO place nuclear weapons in Sweden?
NATO does not have nuclear weapons, but the NATO countries USA, UK and France do. The government believes that there is no reason to have nuclear weapons in Sweden in peacetime, and the nuclear weapons countries have not requested to have them either.
Norway and Denmark have special reservations regarding the storage of nuclear weapons and the stationing of soldiers in their countries during peacetime. Sweden has not done anything equivalent at the moment.
Can a country leave NATO?
Yes, the process takes one year after a member state has announced that it wants to leave. So far it has not happened.
Read more news about NATO here:
Ulf Kristersson’s speech to the nation about Sweden’s NATO membership: “We have come home”
Andersson’s concern about Sweden’s NATO entry: “Not enough”
Clear: Sweden is now in NATO