Fast into NATO because of Putin?
Sweden statement makes you sit up and take notice
Created: 05/10/2022Updated: 05/10/2022 13:13
Sweden and Finland increasingly see Russia as a threat.
So far, Sweden has been hesitant about joining NATO.
That sounds different now.
The news ticker.
Escalated Ukraine conflict
: Sweden could change its mind about joining NATO - for fear of Russian aggression.
EU oil embargo
on
Russia
this week
?: An
EU oil embargo on Russia
over
the Ukraine war could come this week.
This
news ticker on Russia-Ukraine negotiations and international efforts
is continuously updated.
STOCKHOLM - Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist has long been expressly opposed to Sweden joining NATO - but his recent statements could indicate that he is changing his mind.
Sweden and Finland joining NATO would benefit the defense of northern Europe, he said on Swedish radio on Tuesday (May 10).
Should the countries decide to join NATO, it would strengthen the North's joint military capabilities, Hultqvist said.
You can then use the strengths and advantages of the others and complement each other.
NATO membership with joint defense planning and monitoring of the Baltic Sea would reduce the risk of something happening around the Baltic and on the strategic island of Gotland.
Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist could rethink NATO membership.
The reason is the Ukraine war.
© Claudio Bresciani/afp
Ukraine negotiations: Russia's invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point for Sweden
The Social Democrat left his current position on Sweden's NATO membership open.
However, he pointed out that the Ukraine war had changed many things.
"There is one before February 24 and one after," he said, referring to the day Russian President Vladimir Putin's army invaded Ukraine.
The Social Democrats, who rule alone in Sweden, want to announce their NATO position on Sunday.
This is considered to be a key indicator of whether the Scandinavian country will make efforts to join NATO in the near future.
Ukraine negotiations: EU oil embargo against Russia later this week?
Meanwhile, in the struggle for an EU oil embargo against Russia, an agreement between the member states is getting closer.
An agreement is possible "this week" and is "a matter of days," France's Europe Minister Clément Beaune told LCI on Tuesday.
Beaune also announced telephone calls from French President Emmanuel Macron, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for Tuesday.
Von der Leyen traveled to the Hungarian capital Budapest on Monday for talks with Orban about an EU oil embargo against Russia and then spoke of "progress".
Hungary is heavily dependent on Russian oil and has so far blocked a decision by the EU states to stop oil from Russia because of the invasion of Ukraine, for which unanimity would be required.
(
dpa/afp)