Sweden says it received US security assurances if it hands in NATO application
May 5, 2022, 8:24 am

Sweden says it received US security assurances if it hands in NATO application

There’s no alternative to transatlantic unity. Thank you US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for reaffirming our close relations and cooperation, our resolute support for Ukraine and strong stance on Russia’s violations of international law and the UN Charter/Sweden Foreign Minister Ann Linde Twitter account

The Alarabiya reported, citing Reuters, Sweden Foreign Minister Ann Linde said in Washington on Wednesday (May 4), her country has received assurances from the US that it would receive support during the period a potential application to join NATO is processed by the 30 nations in the alliance.

Sweden and neighbour Finland stayed out of NATO during the Cold War, but Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its invasion of Ukraine have led the countries to rethink their security policies, with NATO membership looking increasingly likely.

Both countries are concerned they would be vulnerable during an application process, which could take up to a year to be approved by all NATO's members.

Linde told Swedish TV from Washington after meeting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken: “Naturally, I'm not going to go into any details, but I feel very sure that now we have an American assurance."

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde (Photo: Official Twitter account)

She added: “However, not concrete security guarantees, those you can only get if you are a full member of NATO."

Linde declined to say what assurances she had received from Blinken.

Finland and Sweden to begin NATO application in May, local media reports

She said: “They would mean that Russia can be clear that if they direct any kind of negative activities against Sweden, which they have threatened, it would not be something that the US would just allow to happen ... without a response."

Sweden's defense minister said last month that an application could trigger a number of responses from Russia, including cyber attacks and hybrid measures - like propaganda campaigns - to undermine Sweden's security.

Moscow has warned it could deploy nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles in the European exclave of Kaliningrad if Sweden and Finland become NATO members.

Russia would deploy nuclear weapons if Sweden and Finland join NATO

Linde, who will now travel to Canada to discuss security matters with its government, said the United States was strongly supportive of Swedish and Finnish membership in NATO, which would increase stability in the Baltic and Arctic regions.

Both Sweden and Finland are expected to make a decision about whether to apply to join NATO this month.

Source: alarabiyaenglish

Ex-Brazil president Lula: Zelensky as responsible as Putin for the war Leading charity says UK aid cuts will close down hundreds more Syrian schools

Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.