The Swedish flag was raised at NATO Headquarters for the first time on Monday (11 March) in a ceremony to mark the country’s membership of the Alliance. Sweden became NATO’s 32nd Ally on 7 March upon depositing its instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty with the United States government in Washington D.C.
The flag-raising ceremony to mark the accession of Sweden to NATO took place on the outskirts of Brussels under a steady rain. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Crown Princess Victoria and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg looked on as two soldiers raised the blue banner emblazoned with a yellow cross among the official circle of national flags at the alliance’s headquarters.
“The Russian, brutal, full-scale invasion against Ukraine united Sweden behind the conclusion that a full-fledged NATO membership is the only reasonable choice,” Kristersson said. Swedish government ministers and party leaders from across the political spectrum attended in a show of national unity. With Sweden’s accession, NATO now counts 32 countries among its members. Further comment came from Stoltenberg who said: “This is historic.” Sweden will now take its rightful place at NATO’s table, with an equal say in shaping NATO policies and decisions. After over 200 years of non-alignment Sweden now enjoys the protection granted under Article 5, the ultimate guarantee of Allies’ freedom and security and “Sweden brings with it capable armed forces and a first-class defence industry. Alliance is more secure. Its accession demonstrates at NATO’s door remains open and that every nation as the right to choose its own path.”
Further reaction came from U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who issued a statement. “Sweden’s strong democracy and formidable military capabilities make it an ideal and welcome addition to the NATO alliance,” said Cardin. “The Euro-Atlantic community is stronger when we stand together and lead with our values.”
On Wednesday, Dr Denis MacShane, a former European Minister in the UK under Tony Blair, told Euro-Atlantic Ukraine, “Swedish social democrats were always in the front line against Stalin’s nationalist imperialism. Now again they stand with European values against the oppression of today’s Stalin – Vladimir Putin.”
Polish MEP Danuta Hubner told Euro Atlantic Ukraine, “Back in the 16th century Poland and Sweden acting together deprived Russia of its access to the Baltic Sea. Now we have a chance again to be together in seeing Russia for what it is.”
Photo by Efrem Efre from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/flag-of-sweden-16138880/
