Updated 16.38 | Published 4:00 p.m
unsaveSave
All NATO members have approved the Swedish Accession Protocol.
The government now gives the entry the green light, it is announced at a press conference.
Now it remains for Blinken to receive Sweden’s instrument of accession.
– The government has today decided to join the North Atlantic Treaty, says Minister of Energy and Industry Ebba Busch at a press conference.
Live reporting
Here we will report live on Sweden’s last steps towards NATO entry. Join us during the historic evening!
When asked what the first thing will happen now, Minister of Defense Pål Johnsson answers:
– We are then covered by article five, then we will gradually be integrated into NATO’s defense plans.
– We will share information and get access to defense crypto, says Pål Johnsson.
Now the government receives questions from the journalists on site.
When asked about the situation regarding the Russian hacker attacks, Johan Pehrson answers:
– I recommend everyone to take a look at the FRA, Must and Säpo’s yearbooks, which arrived a couple of weeks ago.
– They contain a tough picture of reality where our freedom is threatened not least by foreign powers that want to act against Sweden, says Johan Pehrson.
– This is a very beautiful day in a very dangerous world, says Johan Pehrson and hands over to Pål Jonsson.
– As a member of NATO, we will be covered by NATO’s binding defense guarantee.
Pål Jonsson continues to say that he will soon travel to Finland to discuss the future of defence.
– We are replacing a security policy vacuum in the Baltic Sea, says Labor Market and Integration Minister Johan Pehrson and continues:
– I have personally been waiting for this for 20 years. I want to say that this has become possible now with this government.
He also thanks other parties who have gone ahead and agreed to be part of the defense alliance.
She also thanks the Social Democrats who drew the same conclusion after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Above all, she thanks Ulf Kristersson who led Sweden towards NATO entry.
– Sweden makes NATO stronger and NATO makes Sweden safer, she continues.
Show more posts
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Foreign Minister Tobias Billström traveled to Washington to row the Swedish NATO application into port.
During Thursday morning, the White House announced that Sweden will become a member of NATO today.
“Sweden will formally join NATO on March 7, 2024 and become the alliance’s 32nd member,” White House wrote on its website.
“The entry historical event”
Now, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has signed Sweden’s instrument of accession in Washington, which will then be handed over to US Foreign Minister Antony Blinken, according to SVT.
The government is now holding a press conference in Stockholm. First up is Energy and Industry Minister Ebba Busch (KD).
– The government has today decided to join the North Atlantic Treaty. The entry into NATO is a historic event, says Minister of Energy and Industry Ebba Busch.
Labor market and integration minister Johan Pehrson (L) thanks other parties who have gone before.
– I have personally been waiting for this for 20 years. I want to say that this has become possible now with this government, he says.
– This is a very beautiful day in a very dangerous world, says Johan Pehrson.
When asked by journalists, Johan Pehrson replies that you should read “FRA, Must and Säpo’s yearbooks”.
Aftonbladet’s reporter on the spot asks what is the first thing that happens when we join NATO.
– We will then be covered by article five, then we will gradually be integrated into NATO’s defense plans, says Pål Jonson
– We will share information and get access to defense crypto, says Pål Johnsson.
Final formalities
Since then, step after step has been taken regarding the final formalities.
Hungary has deposited the NATO documents with the US State Department. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has officially invited Sweden to NATO.
During the afternoon, the government holds an extraordinary meeting where it is decided on Sweden’s accession.
At 4:00 p.m., a press conference will be held with Energy and Industry Minister Ebba Busch, Labor Market and Integration Minister Johan Pehrson and Defense Minister Pål Jonson. They are then expected to present an update on the process.
Address to the nation tonight
Then, at 5:15 p.m. Swedish time, US Foreign Minister Antony Blinken receives Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Foreign Minister Tobias Billström in Washington.
Kristersson will then be able to hand over a signed accession document which will be handed over to the US State Department.
When Blinken receives the documents, Sweden is officially a member of NATO. Then the long application process is over.
When US President Joe Biden makes a speech this evening, Ulf Kristersson will be there as the guest of honor.
At 19.00 Ulf Kristersson is expected to address the nation, according to the Government Office.
The Swedish membership will be especially clear on Monday – when the Swedish flag will be raised at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.
expand-left
full screen NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s official invitation for Sweden as a member.
FACT This is happening tonight
All NATO countries have now approved Sweden. Several quick steps have been taken towards Swedish membership in recent days and Sweden is expected to become a member already tonight.
arrow Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) will hold an extraordinary cabinet meeting before the Swedish accession documents are handed over to Antony Blinken.
arrow At 4 p.m., Energy and Industry Minister Ebba Busch (KD), Labor Market and Integration Minister Johan Pehrson (L) and Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M) will hold a press conference.
arrow At 17.15, the documents are expected to be handed over to US Foreign Minister Antony Blinken. When he receives the documents, Sweden is formally a member of NATO as the alliance’s 32nd member.
arrow Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson gives a speech to the nation at 19:00.
Read more