The majority of Swedes support the country’s membership in the military union, but the share is smaller than in Finland.
STOCKHOLM At the time of the NATO celebrations in Brussels, there is no sign of historical change in Stockholm. The time for the ceremonies in Stockholm is a week from now, when the royal couple has returned from their state visit to Mexico.
But it seems that all Swedes have views on NATO membership.
Patrik Aspholm is returning home to Gothenburg and was waiting for the train in the spring sun.
– Feelings are a bit confused. I’m rather in favor of peace, but sometimes you have to choose between two bad options, Aspholm reflects.
Anna Bladh Uddevalla is just happy about NATO membership.
– It feels good and safe. We are stronger together. National defense will be emphasized in the future, conscription will probably become mandatory, which it is not now. This will certainly have a greater impact on the future of young people.
The NATO position had also become more favorable Nathanael Andersson from Sundsvall.
– I think that as an alliance, our security will be strengthened and we will not have to defend ourselves against a possible attacker alone.
Like Finland, Swedes’ opinions changed after Russia attacked Ukraine. The majority supports NATO membership, but Finland’s support figures in Sweden have never been surprised.
Next week, the University of Gothenburg will announce the latest numbers on the development of support, and according to preliminary data, support is no longer in the top numbers.
Elisabeth Rystedt Sunne is now more worried than a year ago.
– If Trump comes to power, the situation will change. So I’m a little worried.
Sweden’s NATO membership therefore begins in a situation where the people’s opinions are divided. Maybe that’s why the Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson raised the issue on Thursday in his address to the nation.
According to Kristersson, he is well aware that the solution is by no means to the liking of all Swedes. Kristersson reminded that Sweden and thousands of Swedes have already participated in NATO-led peacekeeping operations for decades.
The Swedish peace organization Svenska Freds- och Skiljedomsföreningen has been operating for 140 years. It reminded today in the center of Stockholm about NATO’s nuclear weapons and the chairman Kerstin Bergeå rejected the characterization of NATO as a peace project.
– The peace project does not include nuclear weapons and deterrents. Vice versa. Confrontation and tensions grow, more blocks and separating walls arise.
– So in my opinion this is absolutely the wrong way to go, this is a historical misjudgment on Sweden’s part, Bergeå estimates.