Sweden to join NATO

Context

Sweden is set to join NATO after Hungary's parliament ratified its bid.

Brief Background

Hungary's decision comes two years after both Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO in May 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Why Hungary’s approval was required? All members of NATO must give their approval before another country is able to join.

Why is Sweden joining a big deal? (A larger perspective)

NATO Lake

After Finland joined last year, Sweden's membership means all the countries surrounding the Baltic Sea, except Russia, will be part of the US-led military alliance.

Break from neutrality: Sweden has not been involved in a war since 1814and has “pursued a policy of non-alignment in peacetime and neutrality in wartime, basing its security on a strong national defense. Sweden’s entry into NATO move signals a break from a history of neutrality for both countries.
Reducing the vulnerability: Sweden's NATO membership strengthens alliance in Baltic Sea region.
Sense of security: At the time that Russia’s invasion threatened Europe’s security order and made Sweden’s need for guaranteed securitygranted through NATO membership apparent.
Reinforcing the Baltic states: Three countries breathing a particular sigh of relief over the entry of Sweden - and Finland - are NATO's Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, long seen as an Achilles heel for the alliance.
Kaliningrad threat: Beyond its long Baltic coastline, Sweden brings with it the island of Gotland which would play a central role in helping NATO impose its will. But just across the water, Russia has its vital outpost -- the exclave of Kaliningrad.
- Wedged between Poland and Lithuania, Moscow has in recent years turned the region into one of the most militarised in Europe, with nuclear-capable missiles stationed there.

Sweden's entry makes it easier for NATO to exert control and reinforce its vulnerable Baltic states, Russia can still menace the region from heavily-armed exclave Kaliningrad and threaten undersea infrastructure.

What is NATO?

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a military alliance established by the North Atlantic Treaty (also called the Washington Treaty) of April 4, 1949, sought to create a counterweight to Soviet armies stationed in central and eastern Europe after World War II.
It was the US’s first peacetime military alliance outside the western hemisphere.
Objectives of NATO:
- Political objectives: NATO promotes democratic values and enables members to consult and cooperate on defence and security-related issues to solve problems, build trust and, in the long run, prevent conflict.
- Military Objectives: NATO is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military power to undertake crisis-management operations.