Putin threatens in Moscow
Sweden wants to become a member of NATO
May 16, 2022, 3:11 p.m
The accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO is a historic turning point for both countries. Approval for the step is becoming apparent in the Swedish parliament, in Finland the debate is still ongoing, but a yes is considered certain. Kremlin boss Putin announces a reaction.
Sweden wants to become a member of NATO. Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said in Stockholm that the country would apply to be included in the defense alliance. Previously, almost all parties in Parliament had expressed their support for an application for membership. There shouldn’t be a vote.
The ruling Social Democrats had already advocated an application to join the military alliance on Sunday. “There is much in Sweden worth defending and Sweden is best defended in NATO,” said the Social Democrat prime minister in parliament. “Finally we too can become a member of NATO,” said Ulf Kristersson, leader of the largest opposition party Moderaterna. The bourgeois party has long advocated Sweden’s application for NATO membership.
In Finland, too, there was a debate about the NATO membership application. There was still no end in sight in the afternoon. According to the Finnish Parliament President Matti Vanhanen, 150 requests to speak were planned, so a vote is not yet expected. Finland’s application for membership had already been officially decided on Sunday. A majority in Parliament for the motion is considered safe.
With their plans for membership applications, the two Nordic countries are breaking with a long tradition of military non-alignment under the impact of the war in Ukraine. Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov described the possible admission of the two countries to NATO this morning as a “serious mistake with far-reaching consequences”.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin also stated again that his country would react to the planned expansion of NATO to include Sweden and Finland. The expansion of NATO is a problem, Putin said in Moscow. Russia has no problems with the two Nordic countries. But he will react to the expansion of the military infrastructure there. In addition, Russia must also keep in mind that NATO wants to expand its global influence.