“Today, we’ve made NATO stronger than ever. We welcomed Finland to the alliance last year, and just this morning, Sweden officially joined, and their minister is here tonight. Stand up. Welcome. Welcome, welcome, welcome. And they know how to fight.
Mr. Prime Minister, welcome to NATO, the strongest military alliance the world has ever seen.”
- President Joseph R. Biden, State of the Union, March 7, 2024
The Swedish Flag rose today for the first time amongst 31 flags of the Alliance at the coveted entrance of NATO Headquarters in Brussels Belgium. Sweden has become the 32nd member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance that was formed in 1949 with the Mission to defend against the threat posed by the Soviet Union. This statement of collective European unity for its defense is a significant precedent in Sweden’s long-standing policy of neutrality. Sweden and Finland which joined NATO in April 2023, are direct consequences to a changing World National Security environment and a direct statement to Russia.
Sweden brings advanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense capabilities to enhance their NATO Alliance partners and completes the NATO Scandinavian region of the High North and the Baltic Sea.
“Sweden has taken its rightful place at NATO’s table under the shield of Article 5 protection – the ultimate guarantee of our freedom and security. All for one and one for all.”
- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, March 11, 2024
Skol Sweden!