The White House announced on Thursday that Sweden will officially become the 32nd member state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
According to a statement on its website, the White House said, “Sweden officially joins NATO on March 7, 2024, becoming the thirty-second ally.”
The statement further noted, “Sweden is a strong democracy with a capable military that shares our values and vision of the world. Sweden’s presence as an ally in NATO will make the United States and our allies safer.”
Sweden’s journey to NATO membership has been significant, especially after the Turkish parliament’s approval marked a critical milestone in the prolonged accession process. With Turkey’s ratification, all NATO member states except Hungary have approved Sweden’s membership. This development followed intense negotiations, particularly with Ankara’s demands for Stockholm to intensify its efforts against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and Sweden’s subsequent legal and security measures to address those concerns.
Sweden’s relationship with NATO has deep roots, dating back to when it joined the Partnership for Peace in 1994. Despite historically maintaining a policy of neutrality, Sweden’s stance shifted notably after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The event led to a significant change in public opinion and political stance within Sweden regarding NATO membership, culminating in a formal application to join the organization alongside Finland in May 2022.
The final steps toward Sweden’s accession involve the deposition of ratification instruments by all NATO members. Hungary, having completed its ratification, is expected to deposit its instrument soon, which would pave the way for Sweden to officially join NATO. A flag-raising ceremony is anticipated to mark Sweden’s membership.
