Sweden’s accession to NATO occurred without reservations, but there is currently no reason to have nuclear weapons on Swedish territory, said Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström on March 20 when presenting the government’s foreign policy declaration. On the occasion of the country’s entry into NATO, the press service of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported this on the official Internet portal.
The press service quotes the minister’s speech in full. Billström said that even during the Cold War, when the country followed a neutral policy, “Quiet preparations were made so that Sweden could receive military support from the Western powers if the policy of neutrality failed”. According to the minister, “The collapse of the Soviet Union meant a fundamental change in the situation in Sweden”and then “The development of a Swedish security policy for a new era has begun.”
“From the beginning we participated in strengthening the security and sovereignty of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Sweden joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace in 1994 and became a member of the European Union in 1995. That same year, Swedish troops were placed under NATO command for the first time.”Billstrom said.
The minister noted that since then cooperation with NATO has deepened and now “Sweden’s membership in NATO represents the end of a long goodbye to the policy of neutrality and non-alignment.” Billström said Sweden’s contribution to NATO deterrence and defense brings important benefits to the alliance as a whole. The Minister also presented the government’s views on nuclear weapons issues.
“Sweden’s work to reduce the risk of the use of nuclear weapons must be strengthened at a time of high tension. Sweden unconditionally applied for NATO membership and received broad support in the Riksdag. “This position is firm, but, as in other Nordic countries, there is no reason to have nuclear weapons or permanent bases on Swedish soil in peacetime.”Billström said.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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