BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSwedes cheer end of long wait to join NatoPublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineImage caption, Wilma: “If Russia were to attack us… then we have several countries backing us up”By Maddy SavageStockholmAlmost two years after applying to join Nato, many Swedes say there is palpable relief that the wait to secure membership in the military alliance is finally over.As Stockholm commuters rushed to work in temperatures of -1C, few were in the mood for a detailed post-mortem of the application process. But many said they already felt safer, just a day after Sweden officially joined Nato, following a document handover in Washington.”I think it’s great, actually. It feels safe, and about time,” said 58-year-old Kristina McConnell, who used to work in the military and was on her way to the city centre law firm where she now practised. Sweden embraced wartime neutrality for more than 200 years, and a decade ago a majority of residents were against joining the multinational military alliance. But support for membership crept up in the mid-2010s, amidst growing signs of Russian aggression in the region, including reports of spy planes in Baltic airspace and a suspected submarine in Swedish waters.In early 2022, the country’s then Social Democrat government – long opposed to joining Nato – reversed its position, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and Sweden swiftly applied for membership.”Swedes were horrified by Russia’s action; they saw their elites rapidly change position on Nato; and they went along with it,” explained Nicholas Aylott, a political scientist at Södertörn University and the Swedish Institute of International Affairs.Image source, EPAImage caption, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (left) says Sweden shares “burdens, responsibilities and risk with other allies”Polls suggested about two thirds of voters were in favour of joining Nato as Sweden formally applied in May 2022. That figure has largely stayed constant; 63% of those asked in January 2024 said they supported Sweden becoming a Nato member, in a survey for polling firm Novus.What is Nato and why is Sweden joining now?How Sweden and Finland went from neutral to NatoAt Sergels torg, central Stockholm’s huge black-and-white paved square, Wilma, 16, told the BBC she already thought she would feel safer in her everyday life, now that Sweden was part of the 32-member Nato alliance.”If Russia were to attack us for example, then we have several countries backing us up, and so you can feel more secure.”There is also a clear sense of pride amongst many Swedes that their small country of just 10 million is being viewed as a valuable new member by others in the alliance.On Friday morning, Sweden’s commercial television news TV4 led its bulletins with video clips of US President Joe Biden mentioning Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in his State of the Union address. The cameras zoomed in on the centre-right Moderate party leader beaming in the crowd as Biden said: “Mr prime minister, welcome to Nato, the strongest military alliance the world has ever known.”Swedish tabloid Expressen wrote a round-up of how international media had responded to the development, citing US network NBC describing it as “the most significant expansion of the Western military alliance for decades”, and an editorial in Norwegian newspaper VG declaring that an “old dream of a Nordic defence union” had finally been fulfilled.Image caption, Stanislav Yordanov says his family is split on Nato membershipSweden’s membership application stalled because of opposition from Nato members Hungary and Turkey, who only recently reversed their positions.Turkey had initially withheld approval in a row over what it called Sweden’s support for Kurdish separatists, while Hungary accused Sweden of being hostile. Dr Aylott said the “long wait since Sweden’s application” had been a “source of much frustration” for Swedish politicians from across the spectrum. The lecturer added that “most of the political class is somewhere between mildly euphoric and just relieved” that the paperwork was complete. But there are still those who do not support Sweden’s Nato membership.The country’s Left party and the Green party remain are opposed. On Thursday, Left party lawmaker Håkan Svenneling appeared on Swedish public service television network SVT, saying there was now a risk of Sweden “being drawn into others’ wars and conflicts”.Kerstin Bergeå, Chair of the Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society (Svenska freds), told the same network that state money would be better spent on “investments in diplomacy, in prevention, in addressing the causes of conflict so that wars do not need to break out”.Outside Stockholm central station, 21-year-old Stanislav Yordanov – who moved to Sweden from Bulgaria when he was nine – said his family was split on Nato membership. The car rental sales agent believed Sweden’s accession “is good”, while other relatives “think it will trigger some nasty reactions from other countries”. The official line from the government and the military is that there is a possibility of conflict, but since all Nato members are expected to help an ally which comes under attack, Sweden will now be better protected.Still, in January, two top defence officials warned that Swedes should mentally and logistically start preparing for war.Despite accusations of alarmism, the messaging appeared to have a limited impact on the public, with few signs of panic-buying in Swedish supermarkets.”My impression is that most ordinary people are far less engaged [than the political elite],” said Dr Aylott. “Despite attempts by politicians and the military’s top brass to sound warnings recently about the danger of conflict spreading, few Swedes really think that the country is under serious threat.”But Aylott suggested that joining Nato would have a small but noticeable visual impact, which could impact public discussions.He said there was already a public debate about where and when the Nato flag should be flown by public institutions, and increased military co-operation would likely result in an increased military presence in the region.”Nato countries’ warships have quite often docked in Swedish ports. Still, there will probably be more of that – more foreign soldiers on Swedish soil, more joint exercises,” he explained, “and it might be quite visible.”Related TopicsWar in UkraineSwedenNatoUnited StatesMore on this storySweden formally joins Nato military alliancePublished20 hours agoWhat is Nato and why is Sweden joining now?Published26 FebruarySwedish alarm after defence chiefs’ war warningPublished10 JanuaryTop StoriesArmy’s top IRA spy ‘cost more lives than he saved’Published1 hour agoChris Kaba murder charge police officer named for first timePublished3 hours agoTheresa May to stand down as MP at next electionPublished2 hours agoFeaturesWhy does International Women’s Day matter?Weekly quiz: Which billionaire hired Rihanna to celebrate a wedding?Singapore sting: How spies listened in on German generalMH370: The families haunted by one of aviation’s greatest mysteriesPride, pilgrims and parades: Africa’s top shotsWhy did the IRA not kill Stakeknife?’I’m really shy’ – The return of Gossip’s Beth DittoHow are the child benefit rules changing?The Iranian female DJs shaking the dance floorElsewhere on the BBCFind out this foxy family’s BBC favourites…They’ve got their eyes on the MasterChef trophyAttributioniPlayerA mother’s plea for justiceDiscover the gripping story of Annette Hewins as her daughter seeks the truthAttributionSoundsCan new evidence solve aviation’s greatest mystery?Ten years after the Malaysian Airlines flight disappeared, new technology may explain whyAttributioniPlayerFrom the Smiths to solo successJohnny Marr shares his musical milestones with Matt EverittAttributionSoundsMost Read1Army’s top IRA spy ‘cost more lives than he saved’2’Bearman already marked out as potentially a special one’AttributionSport3Plan to return Castaway island to its wild state4Constance Marten: I carried baby’s body in a bag5Police officer accused of Chris Kaba murder named6Rangers fan dies in Lisbon after Europa League match7Two charged after baby death at hospital8Multiple failings led to man’s death in knife rampage9’Sex predators within police operate in plain sight’10Theresa May to stand down as MP at next election

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• March 8, 2024
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