Shortly after 5 p.m. Swedish time on March 7, 2024, the prime minister left Ulf Kristersson over the signed accession documents to the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the White House in the United States.
This means that Sweden is now formally a member of the NATO defense alliance, along with 31 other countries.
Clear: Sweden is now in NATO
Kristersson: “A truly historic day”
When the accession documents were handed over, Kristersson gave a short speech in which he expressed how proud he was that Sweden had become members.
– It is a truly historic day. Sweden is now a member of NATO. We are humble but also proud, Kristersson said in his speech.
At 7 pm Swedish time, Ulf Kristersson gave a speech to the Swedish nation about the membership.
– The membership means that we have come home, he said, among other things, in the speech.
Photo: Thomas Nilsson/TTSverige will contribute on land, at sea and underwater
He also said that NATO entry is an “epoch-decisive event for our country” and told what it will mean for Sweden going forward.
– We will contribute with our unique defense capabilities, on land, at sea and underwater, he said in the speech.
Thanked his Finnish colleagues
He called the fact that we are now members a “joint Swedish success”. He also took the opportunity to thank the United States and the president Joe Biden, as well as Jens Stoltenberg and their Finnish colleagues in the speech.
He also thanked the other 31 countries for their trust.
– We will manage that trust, he said in the speech.
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