As of: March 7, 2024, 5:36 p.m
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Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (l.) and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg during a press conference in Stockholm.
© Jonas Ekströmer/TT News Agency/AP/dpa
Sweden's wait for NATO membership is over.
The official acceptance into the defense alliance has taken place.
Washington - Sweden is officially a member of NATO.
The defense alliance formally accepted the Scandinavian EU country almost two years after its application for membership, as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken explained after Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson handed over the certificate of accession.
“Sweden is a strong democracy with a highly capable military that shares our values and vision for the world,” it said in a previous press statement.
With Sweden as an ally, the USA and its allies are even safer.
Induction ceremony planned in Brussels
The approval finally only came after Kristersson visited Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Several agreements on arms cooperation were announced.
Among other things, Hungary is buying four new Jas 39 Gripen fighter jets from Sweden.
Before Hungary, Turkey in particular had blocked Sweden's accession to NATO for a long time.
In the end, the country only gave the necessary consent after Sweden pledged greater efforts in the fight against terrorist organizations.
Under the impression of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sweden decided in 2022 to apply for membership in NATO after many years of freedom from military alliances.
Finland was also there, having been welcomed into the alliance as the 31st member in April last year.
According to information from the German Press Agency, a ceremony in Brussels to welcome Sweden is planned for next Monday.
dpa