The decision is expected to be announced on May 15 shortly after similar moves from Finland
Sweden’s governing party will reveal its stance on NATO membership on May 15, three days after a similar move is expected to be taken by Finland, Social Democrat general secretary Tobias Baudin said on Monday.
In the midst of the ongoing Russian military offensive in Ukraine, both Sweden and Finland have seen a dramatic change in public opinion, with the majority of the population now supporting joining NATO. This prompted the authorities in both countries to reconsider their long-standing alliance freedom policy.
In a speech to the press, Baudin confirmed that the party has decided to move its announcement from the end of the month to May 15 because it sees no point in waiting.
“We do not see that this week will provide any new knowledge,” he said, acknowledging that “there are certainly those who are critical” within the party to join the alliance.
In response to questions about which direction the party is leaning, Baudin explained that this is not the case when one only “crosses for yes or no” but rather an overall assessment that takes into account many different issues.
“What the decision will be is not yet decided,” he said.
The Social Democrats’ general secretary also made it clear that his party wants to “keep up” with Finland as the neighboring countries share the same security and foreign policy concerns about the potential offer of membership in the alliance.
Swedish parliamentary parties are now making an overview of their security policy and are expected to complete their analysis on 13 May, which leaves time for the government to review the legislators’ conclusions.
– I want it on the table before I make a decision, said Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto is expected to formally announce the government’s position on joining NATO on 12 May. According to the Finnish newspaper Iltalehti, which first published the news a week ago, “the position is that Finland is applying for membership.” Parliament is also expected to give its approval.
On May 6, White House Spokeswoman Jen Psaki assured Sweden and Finland that the United States will be able to find ways “to address any concerns that both countries may have about the time between an application for NATO membership and the formal accession to the Alliance,” apparently with reference to concerns about potential reprisals from Russia expressed by Swedish and Finnish officials.
In early April, the head of the military alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, said that NATO “will welcome” Finland and Sweden warmly if they apply to become members, and is prepared to make a decision on membership “fairly quickly”.
Russia believes that NATO’s further expansion is a direct threat to its own national security and “to the entire security architecture”. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned in April that Moscow would “take further action” to make its defense on the West Bank “more sophisticated” if Finland and Sweden join the bloc.
(RT.com)
Source: sn.dk