Sweden officially joined NATO as its 32nd member nation, marking a significant shift from its long-standing policy of over 200 years of military non-alignment. This historic move was celebrated with a flag-raising ceremony at NATO headquarters under a steady rain, attended by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Crown Princess Victoria, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. The decision to join NATO comes in response to increased regional tensions following Russian aggression, prompting Sweden to seek stronger security assurances. The Swedish government, along with its military forces, has expressed readiness to fortify strategic locations such as the crucial Baltic island of Gotland to address potential threats. This accession has sparked mixed reactions within Sweden, with some viewing it as a necessary step for national security, while others criticize it as a departure from the country's peacekeeping ideals.
Welcome Sweden. Good to have you aboard. https://t.co/Y6LygvYaYV
On March 12th, 1999, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland joined NATO. Today is the 25th anniversary. On December 17th, 2021, Russia issued an ultimatum to NATO which demanded for NATO to withdraw all its troops from states that joined NATO after 1990 🇵🇱🇨🇿🇭🇺 https://t.co/mCj9k4qOFV
VIDEO: Swedes express mixed feelings towards their country becoming the 32nd member of NATO, a move that brings the curtain down on more than 200 years of military non-alignment. https://t.co/lLqAqnNsJg
A quarter of a century in NATO On March 12, 1999, Poland, Czechia, and Hungary joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Warsaw Bloc after the end of the Cold War opened the door for further NATO expansion. At… https://t.co/tbDBGWSguE
💥Swedish PM tells @FT he is ready to fortify crucial Baltic island of Gotland as part of new measures to combat a more aggressive Russia following Stockholm’s @Nato accession https://t.co/qmqudjZLWr w @rmilneNordic
Swedish PM Says Ready To Fortify Crucial Baltic Island - FT https://t.co/xBwy2HqrOz
Twenty-five years ago today, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary moved west to join a future filled with promise and possibility. @NATO did not move east, contrary to what some say. Just five days ago, Sweden became NATO’s 32nd ally. Freedom is a powerful force of nature.…
Although Sweden was already cooperating intensively with @NATO, full membership will deepen the relationship significantly, explains @CarlaNorrlof. https://t.co/qx4Ilo7FiV
VIDEO: Swedes divided over country's NATO membership. "It's good for the country" says Fredrik Palmqvist, a 36-year-old chef. However, Kerstin Bergea, an NGO worker, sees Sweden's accession as "a historic mistake". Stockholm's bid to join the US-led alliance was prompted -… https://t.co/5zGc3hiybD
A huge moment for Sweden and for NATO https://t.co/hJlENGe2T8
NATO is holding military drills in its newly expanded Nordic territory. More than 20,000 soldiers from 13 nations are taking part in the exercises that are the largest since the Cold War. https://t.co/qNrJ0fPML5
🇸🇪 Swedish forces celebrate NATO membership Just minutes after Sweden’s membership became official, Swedish soldiers lit bonfires and held a spontaneous ceremony whilst exercising in Lapland, Finland #SteadfastDefender24 | #WeAreNATO https://t.co/MmVRxjnxGA
🤝 In 1999, the Clinton administration supported the expansion of @NATO to include emerging democracies and safeguard the freedom of millions united by democratic ideals. 🇨🇿 25 years later, he’s in Prague this week to mark the anniversary → follow along: https://t.co/g5zr52wv1T https://t.co/92xycDvV3J
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. https://t.co/g6lfGhvF0j
'Sweden is a safer country today than we were yesterday. We have allies. We have backing,' Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in an address from Washington as Sweden joined NATO https://t.co/tUCTlnBIAy https://t.co/J11sIqt3zn
Sweden and Finland join Nato's biggest military exercise in decades https://t.co/U8sI8n8TZL
👀🛡️ "European NATO countries need to build a strong enough defense and not just rely on the US to provide it", - Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said. https://t.co/HJelSxfPl5
🇸🇪 Gripen prove their already integrated with their intercept today of a 🇷🇺 AN-29 & TU-134 together with 🇧🇪 F-16 & 🇩🇪 Eurofighters Across #NATO the 🇸🇪 flag has been raised in honour of being the 32nd member of the Alliance Read more: https://t.co/WlRW1IaVYh #SecuringTheSkies https://t.co/isPgrhPmpf
🚨🇸🇪SWEDEN'S FLAG RAISED IN BRUSSELS AS 32ND NATO NATION MEMBER Full list of NATO countries: 1949 - The Founding Year 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇨🇦 Canada 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇫🇷 France 🇮🇸 Iceland 🇮🇹 Italy 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇺🇸 United States 1952 🇬🇷… https://t.co/TyDNZ5lF0S
.@politico - Sweden’s PM Kristersson: Europe needs to talk China, defense spending to keep US support on Ukraine https://t.co/S4whF9WpAx
my congrats to @carlbildt, glad sweden is now under the nato umbrella. otherwise i was prepared to defend him personally. #honkifyoulovecarl #honk https://t.co/h3Qe5595yj
'We will share the risks': Sweden's NATO membership cemented in flag-raising ceremony 🔗 https://t.co/1QrDjpuJxd
Stoltenberg raised the Swedish flag and “joked” that the next blue and yellow flag in NATO will be Ukrainian https://t.co/4DXnbwG7e5
The moment the Swedish flag joined the war party against Russia https://t.co/nAEaRNUe4V
Another blue-yellow flag will one day rise at the NATO HQ in Brussels, just like that of 🇸🇪 Sweden today. Now cry, vatniks. https://t.co/COGMbifn1P
Russian aggression has forced long-neutral Sweden into a dramatic reversal that will have major implications for the regional balance of power, writes @CarlaNorrlof. https://t.co/vlMYwndfnb
EDITORIAL | Trump vs. NATO Sweden joins a strong alliance that the ex president wants to weaken https://t.co/Wm1Q5wNQ7Y
New hues, soaring views 🇸🇪 Today, we witness the unveiling of the Alliance’s newest colors, celebrated through a poignant flag-raising ceremony at #STRIKFORNATO headquarters. 🫡 As our base displays its fresh palette, ⚡️ Allied fighter jets grace blue Swedish skies. #Sweden… https://t.co/ak7BD4JS2W
#Swedish🇸🇪flag raised at #NATO headquarters https://t.co/evTR1WPYmI
As the Swedish flag is due to be raised outside Nato HQ today, Sweden’s veteran peace movement stung by ‘reckless’ entry to Nato. Activists say public debate has been shut down by overhyped claims of imminent war since Ukraine invasion https://t.co/2ve2YZwce7