Kerstin Bergeå, chairman of Swedish Peace, has long been critical of Sweden joining NATO.
– With the increased tension and the increased militarization we see in the world. It is a world that would need the opposite, she says.
Swedish peace expresses what Kerstin Bergeå describes as a justified concern for Sweden’s membership.
– What we want to see are investments in diplomacy, in prevention, in removing the causes of conflict so that wars do not have to break out.
The Riksdag parties that oppose NATO membership
Both the Left Party and the Green Party have been against Swedish NATO membership from day one.
Member of Parliament Håkan Svenneling (V) expresses concern for the future within NATO.
– We now risk being drawn into other people’s wars and conflicts. And it could be a completely different NATO we are part of in ten years, he says.
Even Daniel Helldén, spokesperson for the Green Party, believes that his party wished that Sweden had not joined NATO.
– But above all, this decision means that the state of limbo we have been in for almost two years is over. And that is good, because it has not benefited Sweden to be in this situation.
At the same time, he expresses that it is time to set limits towards the alliance.
– In this situation, we think it is incredibly important that there are no nuclear weapons on Swedish soil, and that we simply introduce a ban on nuclear weapons in Sweden. That’s the next step.
Magdalena Andersson (S) praises the decision
The Social Democrats’ party leader Magdalena Andersson, for her part, sides with the NATO positives. She says that today’s decision has made Sweden a safer country.
– I started this process precisely because I judged that it was best for Sweden and the safety of the Swedish people.
She believes that membership in NATO will strengthen Sweden’s defence.
– It makes it easier to defend our democracy, our freedom and our way of life.
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S leader, Magdalena Andersson, about the NATO announcement: “I started this process” Photo: SVT