Sweden ended its long-standing neutrality and joined NATO on Thursday, a historic move for a nation that once avoided provoking Russia.
The ratification documents were handed over to Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, where Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson was visiting. Kristersson may also attend United States President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech later in the day.
Biden has been trying to get the opposition Republicans to back more assistance to Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in 2022. Ukraine had failed to join NATO, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.
Sweden’s flag will be raised at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels on Monday.
Russia has threatened “countermeasures” against Sweden’s NATO membership, especially if the alliance deploys its forces and equipment in the country.
Sweden and Finland, both close partners of the US and the EU, had historically stayed out of NATO, which was created to counter the Soviet threat during the Cold War.
Sweden had not fought in a war, including World War II, since the early 1800s.
But after Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Sweden and Finland decided to seek NATO membership together.
Finland joined the alliance in April 2023. Sweden faced more challenges due to Turkey’s demands. Turkey wanted Sweden, which has a generous refugee policy, to crack down on Kurdish rebels who oppose Ankara.
Turkey’s leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan also asked for action after some protesters in Sweden, where free speech is protected, insulted the Koran.
The US offered F-16 jets to Turkey, which was under US sanctions for buying weapons from Russia, as an apparent incentive.
The US also approved $8.6 billion in F-35 jets for Greece, a NATO ally that often clashes with Turkey.
Even after Turkey agreed, Sweden still needed the approval of Hungary, whose leader Viktor Orban is known for defying the West.
Hungary’s parliament approved Sweden’s membership on February 26. But there was a delay in signing the document because Hungary’s president quit over a scandal involving a child abuse case.
A poll by Sweden’s SR broadcaster showed that most Swedes thought the country gave up too much to join NATO, but a large majority also felt that NATO would boost their security.
