Sweden formally joins NATO military alliance, ending centuries of neutrality

Sweden formally became the 32nd member of NATO on Thursday, nearly two years after submitting its initial application to the military alliance.

Earlier in the day, the Swedish government announced an extraordinary meeting to vote on NATO membership after receiving approval from all existing members.

Later on Thursday, NATO officially confirmed the news, with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stating that Sweden was now “taking its rightful place at our table.”

“Sweden’s accession makes NATO stronger, Sweden safer, and the whole Alliance more secure. I look forward to raising their flag at NATO HQ on Monday,” he added.

This week, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson traveled to Washington, D.C., to submit the final documents for Sweden’s NATO membership.

The country initially applied to join NATO in May 2022, a shift from its longstanding policy of military nonalignment dating back to the Napoleonic wars, CNBC reported.

READ MORE: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/07/sweden-formally-joins-nato-military-alliance-ending-decades-of-neutrality.html

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