Sweden handed over the accession document on Thursday evening in Washington. Earlier today, President Alexander Stubb called Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson a congratulatory call.
Erja Tuomaala,
Paula Tapiola,
Saana Uosukainen
– Welcome, said the US foreign minister Anthony Blinken. Sweden’s NATO membership was sealed.
– Good things are worth waiting for, added Blinken.
Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson took the accession document to the US Secretary of State at 7:30 Finnish time on Thursday. At the same moment, Sweden’s NATO membership began.
According to Blinken, Sweden’s NATO membership shows that Russia has made a “strategic blunder”. He assured that Sweden shares NATO’s values: the principles of democracy, freedom and the rule of law.
Sweden’s Kristersson said that Russia will remain a threat to Euro-Atlantic security in the future as well. According to him, Sweden’s NATO membership is a “victory for freedom”.
Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg according to today was a historic day that ends Sweden’s more than 200 years of non-alignment.
President of the United States Joe Biden according to NATO is now “stronger than ever” after Sweden became a member. Bidenin said in his statement the president of Russia Vladimir Putin the attack led to this.
– When Putin started his brutal attack on the Ukrainians, he thought he could weaken Europe and divide NATO, said Biden.
Kristersson praised Finland’s help
Also later in his speech to Swedes, Kristersson said the country joined NATO to defend freedom and democracy.
– You cannot be strong alone, said Kristerssoo in his speech, in which he assured that his country is ready for a military alliance.
Kristersson thanked Finnish politicians for their help regarding the NATO process. He mentioned the former president Sauli NiinistönPrime Minister Petteri Orvo (co.c.), the current president by Alexander Stubb. In addition, Kristersson singled out the former prime minister Sanna Mariniwhich, according to Kristersson, has not received attention from the discussions that took place during his prime ministership across party lines.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and the Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre already rushed to congratulate the newest member of the military union.
– Many thanks to both of you! Indeed! It feels great that you are the ones calling together about the NATO exercise from Northern Norway. You are not the craziest combination, Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson said in a video broadcast by Swedish television.
He was the Secretary of State in Washington together Tobias Billström with finishing Sweden’s NATO process.
A multigenerational process
First thing in the morning, Hungary submitted its approval for Sweden’s NATO membership to the US State Department. After that, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg invited Sweden to join the military alliance. Then the Swedish government held an extraordinary session where it decided on Sweden’s accession.
Earlier on Thursday, Kristersson signed the accession document.
At Illemma, Kristersson and Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström will also meet the President of the United States Joe Bidensays Swedish television SVT.
President Biden has invited Prime Minister Kristersson as a guest of honor to listen to Biden’s State of the Nation speech next night Finnish time. According to the White House press release Kristersson is the First Lady of the United States, Mrs Jill Biden in guest quota.
Hungary accepted Sweden’s membership as the last NATO member after nearly two years of delay. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Facebook that he arrived in Washington early in the morning Finnish time. He has the ratification documents for Sweden’s NATO membership with him.
Sweden becomes NATO’s 32nd member. The ceremonial flag-off of the military union is scheduled to be held in Brussels on Monday.
Sources: AFP, Reuters, AP, STT