A New Chapter for the European Security: Sweden joins NATO

Translated by Alessandra Fumagalli 

The announcement of Sweden’s NATO membership represents a crucial moment in the history of the European security and in the global geopolitical view. After a long and complex assessment process, Sweden official decided to join NATO, with some strategical and diplomatic implications. Sweden’s decision to join NATO is the result of a deep exam of the challenges and opportunities in the present context of international security, especially after the increasing geopolitical tension and the lasting attacks’ threat by Eastern countries, as well as the destabilizing activities. For this reason, Sweden understood the importance to strengthen its security through a deeper bond with NATO. 

Despite the small dimension of the country and the moderate militar spending in proportion to its GDP, Sweden has a strong defense ability, thanks to a worldwide militar-industrial complex. Moreover, the previous investments in the defense’s sector contributed to strengthen the militar ability of the country, making it a precious partner for NATO, giving strategical and operative benefits to the Alliance. The geographical position of Sweden indeed, strategically located in the Baltic Sea, increased the control of the Alliance in this crucial region, giving the opportunity to better monitor the Russian activities. Moreover, Swedish armed forces, that are already highly integrated with those of other NATO’s members, will contribute to strengthen cohesion and efficacy of joint operations. 

With an increasing defense statement and an event political willingness to meet the military spending goals, set by NATO, Sweden will significantly contribute to the total defense of the Alliance. However, the steps towards the membership weren’t easy: the concerns raised by some NATO’s members, in particular Turkey and Hungary, highlighted the political discords and the diplomatic challenges, that characterized the negotiation process. Nevertheless, after several diplomatic efforts and the reached agreements, Stockholm managed to overcome these difficulties and ensure the final vote for NATO’s membership. The U.S. President Joe Biden favorably accepted Sweden’s membership, underlining the importance of a joint responsibility for the defense of democracy and freedom. Moreover, Biden has placed his trust in the key role that Sweden will play in facing the international security challenges and the promotion of local stability. 

Such recent developments in the NATO show the research for a strong security and stability in the European and world context, representing the joint responsibility towards the defenses of people and in the promotion of peace democratic values and global prosperity. 

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