Secretary of State Wallensten: Sweden does not aspire to NATO, despite the situation in Ukraine
Photo: Karl Melander / Reuters
The situation around Ukraine did not affect Sweden's position on joining NATO. This publication Politico said the country's Secretary of State Karin Wallensten.
“We want to be a good, strong NATO partner, but we are not going to join,” she said.
The politician explained that in the current situation, stability and predictability are urgently needed, and Sweden's security policy was determined earlier.
In January, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde also spoke about Stockholm's lack of plans to join NATO. According to her, right now the question of a possible entry into the North Atlantic Alliance is not on the agenda. At the same time, Linde recalled that now Sweden and Finland are the closest partners of NATO.
Earlier, Commander-in-Chief of the Swedish Armed Forces Mikael Byden said that the fulfillment of Russia's demands to limit NATO expansion would make it impossible for Sweden to cooperate with the alliance. “If the world accepts Russian demands to limit NATO, then for the defense of Sweden – in the event of a possible attack – everything will look very gloomy,” Buden said. – If these requirements of Russia are implemented, compromises begin, then I understand that I will not be able to cooperate with NATO. With its members or with the organization.
Sweden officially adheres to the principle of neutrality in wartime and non-alignment with military blocs in peacetime. The last time the country was at war with neighboring Norway was in 1814.
