Sweden's Ruling Party Backs Bid To Join NATO

Sweden's ruling Social Democratic Party on Sunday gave the green light to a NATO bid, paving the way for the government to apply for membership jointly with Finland, Euronews reported.

Photo Insert: The party has long been opposed to NATO membership, but changed its stance over Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent war.

At an extraordinary meeting on Sunday, the leadership decided that the party would "contribute to a Swedish application for NATO membership", the Social Democrats said in a statement, reversing their long-standing line.

The party has long been opposed to NATO membership, but changed its stance over Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent war, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

"At its meeting today, 15 May 2022, the party board of the Social Democrats has decided that the party will work for Sweden to apply for membership of NATO," said the statement.

"The Social Democrats will thus work for Sweden, if the application is approved by NATO, to declare unilateral reservations against the deployment of nuclear weapons and permanent bases on Swedish territory."

Earlier on Sunday, Finland's president and prime minister announced that the Nordic country intends to apply for NATO membership, in another historic policy shift from the country's traditional neutrality.

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