As of: February 26, 2024, 11:43 a.m
By: Natascha Berger
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Press
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Sweden's accession to NATO could now be imminent.
The Scandinavian country hopes to be able to support the defense alliance primarily with its modern submarine fleet on the Baltic Sea.
Russia's increasing military activity has been noticeable there for some time.
Stockholm – After around 21 months, Sweden is within reach of joining NATO.
Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party recently signaled the green light.
Hungary is the last of the 31 countries in the defense alliance that still has to sign off on joining.
After a winter break, the Hungarian Parliament is now set to vote on ratification.
Sweden's accession is intended to strengthen NATO - the Scandinavian country can and wants to bring advantages through its strong submarine fleet, especially on the Baltic Sea.
Russian activities in the Baltic Sea have been noticeable for years - Sweden wants a larger navy with NATO support
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sweden sought membership in NATO in May 2022.
Since then, the kingdom has been rearming: the military budget for 2024 was increased by almost 30 percent in order to quickly achieve NATO's two percent target.
The money will also flow into the production of two new attack submarines.
These should then be able to track and combat Russian activities on the eastern NATO border.
Russian activities in the Baltic Sea have increased significantly, Navy commander Ewa Skoog Haslum told
ntv
.
Although Russia's presence has not increased specifically in the past year, the increase cannot be overlooked when looking at the past five or six years.
More military in the Baltic Sea and a larger navy are necessary, said the commander.
More capacity is needed to cover the 2,700 kilometer long coastline.
They also want to grow in terms of military capabilities and competencies.
Sweden's navy is already in the growth phase, and cooperation with other nations plays a particularly important role.
Sweden's knowledge of the Baltic Sea distinguishes sea power
The archipelago coasts in Sweden are very special terrain for the Baltic Sea, says marine expert Johan Lofgren to
ntv
.
The Swedish navy knows how to operate in the rugged island world.
This is a huge advantage over most other nations and what sets sea power apart.
In addition to the knowledge of the Baltic Sea, it is also the equipment of the Swedish military that can give NATO advantages: with a total of 353 warships and submarines, the Swedish navy is one of the most highly equipped fleets in the world.
According to Global Firepower's rankings, the Scandinavian country is in 5th place with the strongest fleets in 2024, ahead of Russia, China, North Korea and the USA (in descending order).
With a total of 353 warships and submarines, the Swedish navy is one of the strongest fleets in the world.
© Ann-Katrin Fischer/dpa
350 kilometers from Kaliningrad: More military on the Swedish island of Gotland
Sweden's rearmament can also be felt on the island of Gotland.
The military withdrew from Gotland entirely in 2005, but returned in 2018.
In the summer of 2023, around 400 Swedish soldiers were stationed there, and there are expected to be more than 4,000.
The 60,000-inhabitant island has a high military value due to its central location in the Baltic Sea, around 200 kilometers from Stockholm and 350 kilometers from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
In Kaliningrad, Russia not only stores nuclear-capable missiles, but also its military sea fleet.
If Hungary agrees to Sweden joining NATO, the Baltic Sea, with the exception of Russia, will be surrounded exclusively by member states.