In response, Russia threatens to take unspecified “political and military-technical countermeasures.”
- The Scandinavian country joins NATO after decades of neutrality.
- Russia will take “political and military-technical countermeasures.”
- The Swedish public was in favor of joining NATO after the invasion of Ukraine.
In a blow to Russia, Sweden officially became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson handed over final documents to the US government on Thursday. Reuters reported.
The Scandinavian nation's decision to join NATO after decades of neutrality is a major change in its security policy. For NATO, the additions of Sweden and Finland, which share a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia, are the most important additions in decades.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said “everything changed” after Russia invaded Ukraine, citing polls showing a massive shift in Swedish public opinion about joining NATO.
He said: “The Swedes realized something very profound: if Putin was willing to try to wipe a neighbor off the map, then he might as well not stop there.”
In response to Sweden's move, Russia has threatened to take unspecified “political and military-technical countermeasures.”
While Finland joined the alliance last year, Sweden had to wait as Turkey and Hungary, which have cordial relations with Russia, delayed ratifying Sweden's accession.
Turkey approved Sweden's request in January, while Hungary delayed its decision until Kristersson made a goodwill visit to Budapest in February, where the two countries agreed on a fighter jet deal.
