Delegation in the USA

Sweden apparently to join NATO on Thursday

Sweden has already taken part in a NATO exercise.

(Bild: AFP)

Sweden is to officially become the 32nd member of NATO tomorrow, Thursday. The defense alliance expects that the admission procedure for the Scandinavian country can be completed during a visit by a Swedish delegation to Washington.

One of the remaining steps for Sweden's accession to NATO is for the accession certificate to be deposited with the US State Department. This is the so-called depository of NATO's founding treaty and is responsible for registering documents relating to the so-called North Atlantic Treaty.

Political leadership in Washington
The Swedish government confirmed on Wednesday that Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Foreign Minister Tobias Billström will be in Washington this Thursday. However, they initially did not wish to comment on the possible conclusion of the accession process.

One reason given in alliance circles was that the document documenting Hungary's approval still has to be officially deposited. Hungary's President Tamas Sulyok only signed it on Tuesday. The necessary parliamentary resolution had previously been delayed for a long time.

The agreement was only finally approved following a visit by Kristersson to Hungary's head of government Viktor Orban. During this visit, several agreements on arms cooperation were announced. Among other things, Hungary will purchase four new Jas 39 Gripen fighter jets from Sweden.

Sweden's path to NATO 
Before Hungary, Turkey in particular had long blocked Sweden's accession to NATO. The country only gave the necessary approval in the end after Sweden had promised to make greater efforts in the fight against terrorist organizations. Ankara was primarily concerned with the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), which is also classified as a terrorist organization by the EU. In addition, the US government pushed ahead with a procedure for the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey.

Under the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sweden decided to apply for NATO membership in 2022 after many years of military non-alignment. Finland, which was welcomed as the 31st member of the alliance in April last year, was also included. According to the German Press Agency, a ceremony in Brussels to welcome Sweden is planned for next Monday.