Thursday last week, Sweden officially became a NATO member. During the Monday morning, another formal step in the process is completed – the flag raising.
And this afternoon, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) and Social Democrats party leader Magdalena Andersson held a joint press conference on NATO membership.
– The journey that formally began here in Stockholm on May 16, 2022, reached its formal destination in Brussels today. That time, the two of us stood at a different but joint press conference and announced that Sweden, with the support of a broad majority, would apply for membership in NATO. That we do it together, long-term and for the good of Sweden, says Ulf Kristersson.
On Monday, Kristersson and Andersson flew together to Brussels and raised Sweden’s flag at NATO.
– We promised before the election in 2022 that regardless of which of us leads the government after the election, we will cooperate on Sweden’s continued path into NATO, says Ulf Kristersson and continues:
– As you all know, we disagree about quite a lot in Swedish politics, but not about this. I want to thank Magdalena for a good and constructive collaboration, he says.
Kristersson further says that the Swedish people will hardly notice that Sweden has become a member of NATO – and that it is the very purpose of the defense alliance, that security should not be noticed. But for many sailors, soldiers, officers, volunteers and authorities it will be different.
When Kristersson was in Washington last week, he received two copies of a memorial gift from some US senators – and one was for Magdalena Andersson (S).
The gift contains the voter’s list from the vote when the US Senate voted for the ratification of Sweden. The number of votes was 95 yes, one no and four blank.
– Here is your copy, he says and hands it over to the S leader with a handshake.
– Thank you for bringing it here, says Magdalena Andersson.
The S leader adds that she agrees that Sweden is now a safer country. According to her, it is especially important as the contours of a new cold war take shape.
– In times like this, you have to stick together. And for me as prime minister, it was obvious that the decision to apply for NATO membership would be made hand in hand with Finland, but also the opposition.
– You have carried that work forward and I want to thank you for that. The fact that we are standing here today shows that we are also entering NATO in the same way, hand in hand, now that we are entering a new security policy era, she says.
For her, it is more important to continue in a broad political consensus to support Ukraine.
– Until the last Russian soldier leaves. It is crucial for Sweden and the security of the Swedish people and Sweden’s future.
The text is updated.