20:24 9 March 2024
Sweden Joins NATO
Less than two years after applying for NATO membership, Sweden has officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson today (March 7) handed over the accession protocols to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
He stated that it was a "truly historic day" for Sweden and thanked the United States for their efforts to bring the country into the Alliance.
"Sweden is leaving behind 200 years of neutrality and non-military engagement. It's a huge, yet very natural step," he assessed.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Sweden's accession makes NATO stronger and Sweden safer.
