Sweden Officially Joins NATO

Sweden became the 32nd member country of NATO. On Monday, March 11, 2024, a flag-raising ceremony will be held at the Atlantic Alliance headquarters in Brussels to mark the accession of the Scandinavian country, the latest to join after Finland also joined the alliance in 2023 following the conflict in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg explained via X social network that Sweden “has a rightful place at our table.” Swedish membership makes NATO stronger, Sweden safer, and the entire Alliance more secure.”

United States President Joe Biden also spoke out about Sweden’s membership, noting the importance of NATO in his State of the Union address to highlight differences with his future opponent Donald Trump, who has recently been very controversial about the alliance and countries that are “not fulfilling their duty” (i.e. not spending enough money on armaments).

“Today I am honored to welcome Sweden as NATO’s 32nd ally,” Biden explained. “Putin (…) thought he could weaken Europe and split NATO. Instead, in May 2022, Sweden and Finland, two of our closest partners with two highly skilled armed forces, made the historic decision to apply for full NATO membership. Alliance members ratified Finland’s membership last year before our historic summit in Vilnius. And with Sweden joining today, NATO became more united, determined, and dynamic than ever before.”

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, explained via X that “a more sovereign Europe, especially in the area of defense, is vital to strengthening NATO. So, I am glad that Sweden is becoming a member of NATO. And I congratulate Sweden, under the leadership of Prime Minister Kristersson, on this historic step for this country and for our common security.”