After Hungary’s yes to joining NATO: Sweden breathes a sigh of relief

On the long road to NATO membership, Sweden has finally reached its destination – with Hungary’s yes, all that is missing are formalities. Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson’s relief was clearly noticeable.

“Membership of NATO means that we are coming home. Home to the security cooperation of our neighbors, home to a circle of countries in which we have in practice been at home for some time. We will freedom together with them Defending countries that are closest to us geographically, emotionally and in terms of our values. Sweden enters this alliance with a mixture of humility and pride.”

This was what the visibly relieved Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said – shortly after the Hungarian parliament ratified the Scandinavians’ accession to the defense alliance.

Not all Swedes were convinced from the start when Sweden applied for NATO membership after the Russian attack on Ukraine in May 2022.

But now many are happy that the wait is over after a good 21 months: “I think it’s right that we’re joining NATO now. Sweden is too small to stand alone. We can’t do it without support. I think it is NATO’s basic idea – that it should maintain peace – is actually very nice,” says a Stockholmer.

And another says: “I think that’s very good. We always said we were neutral, but we still trusted that the USA or NATO would save us in the event of a Russian attack. That was a little disingenuous. Either … or!”

“A kind Deromanticization of Swedish identity”

For Sweden, the decision to join NATO was not an easy one. Because the country has always been proud of 200 years of military freedom from alliances, says historian Lars Trägårdh: “Now we have to get used to being seen as a member of NATO and therefore a certain type of alliance that pursues a certain defense policy. And that means one Kind of de-romanticizing Swedish identity.”

But Sweden hasn’t really been neutral yet, say others. The country has been working very closely with NATO for a long time and takes part in exercises.

Nevertheless, a lot will change with membership, says Jacob Westberg, professor at the Swedish University of Defense in Stockholm: “As a NATO member, Sweden has the opportunity to exert influence and set priorities. Until now, we were allowed to do so in certain areas “We have to be present at meetings and listen, but we had no right to express our opinion. I think Sweden and Finland will put a new focus on the Baltic Sea region – and on how to defend it together.”

Sweden brings a lot with it

It wasn’t just Sweden that was looking forward to joining NATO. The defense alliance is also hoping for major benefits. Because the Swedish air force and navy are considered strong. Sweden has modern submarines and knows the Baltic Sea better than few others.

The geographical location is particularly important given the Russian war in Ukraine, says Jonas Haggren, Sweden’s NATO military representative: “Sweden will become a kind of logistics center for the northern NATO flank. We will be responsible for transport routes and the Baltic Sea region with the Navy and air force. We are also expected to contribute with units in the Baltics and perhaps also in Finland.”

A few signatures are still needed before Sweden is a NATO member on paper. But for the Swedes on this day, the relief that a long odyssey is finally coming to an end probably predominates.