The alliance celebrates its latest expansion by hoisting the blue and yellow flag in front of NATO headquarters in Brussels. However, Sweden does not want to fully participate in all areas of deterrence.
The new NATO member Sweden does not want to take an active part in the deterrence policy with US nuclear weapons for the time being. There is no need to host nuclear weapons or a permanent NATO base on Swedish soil in peacetime, said Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Brussels on the sidelines of a ceremony to accept his country into the defense alliance. At the same time, they fully understand that all NATO defense capabilities are necessary, including nuclear strategy.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized that Sweden would of course still be included in NATO defense planning. He also pointed out that we are already practicing together. With a view to a possible expansion of the concept of so-called nuclear sharing, he said: “There are no plans to increase the number of NATO allies with nuclear weapons.” For the time being, no US nuclear weapons will be stationed in Finland, which also joined NATO last year because of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
The German way is not an issue for the time being
NATO’s concept of nuclear sharing stipulates that, in an emergency, US nuclear weapons stationed in Europe will also be dropped from partner states’ aircraft and then, for example, eliminate opposing forces. According to officially unconfirmed information, US nuclear weapons are stored in northern Italy, Turkey, Belgium, the Netherlands and Büchel in Rhineland-Palatinate. The Bundeswehr has combat aircraft available so that it can be used in an emergency.
Another component of NATO’s nuclear deterrent are the nuclear weapons that the European allies Great Britain and France have at their disposal. However, there is no system of participation for them.
Ceremony for joining the alliance in Brussels
Sweden was welcomed into the defense alliance by the allies with a ceremony four days after its formal entry into NATO. The Swedish flag was hoisted for the first time in front of the headquarters in Brussels. In addition to Sweden’s Prime Minister Kristersson and NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg, the Swedish Crown Princess Victoria and representatives of the other 31 member states also took part in the celebrations.
Stoltenberg said the now 32 flags represent 32 nations that share the common goal of protecting their one billion citizens, preventing wars and maintaining peace. Sweden’s membership makes NATO stronger and safer. In the future, the sentence: “All for one, one for all” will also apply to the Scandinavian country.
Stoltenberg: NATO’s door remains open
With regard to Russia’s attempts to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO, Stoltenberg said that Sweden’s accession once again shows that the NATO door remains open. Nobody can close it.
Sweden joined NATO last Thursday after around 200 years of military non-alignment. The country applied for membership in May 2022 under the impression of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At the time, it had hoped to join the following summer. However, alliance members Türkiye and Hungary held up the accession process for almost two years.
Blockades are a thing of the past
The necessary consent from Hungary finally only came at the end of February after Kristersson visited Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Several agreements on arms cooperation were announced. Among other things, they stipulate that Hungary can buy four new Jas 39 Gripen fighter jets from Sweden.
Before Hungary, Turkey had long blocked Sweden’s accession to NATO. In the end, the country only gave the necessary consent after Sweden pledged greater efforts in the fight against terrorist organizations. Ankara was primarily concerned with the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK), which the EU has also classified as a terrorist organization. The US government also pushed forward a process to sell F-16 fighter jets to Turkey.
Together with Sweden, Finland also applied for NATO membership in 2022. However, the country was welcomed into the alliance as the 31st member in April last year.
Source: Stern

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