In a historic move, Sweden officially joined NATO on Thursday, becoming the alliance’s 32nd member. The accession documents were handed over at a ceremony in Washington, where Secretary of State Antony Blinken described it as a significant development that underscored Russia’s strategic miscalculations.
During the ceremony, Blinken accepted the accession documents from Sweden’s prime minister, following the ratification process by the other 31 NATO members. Reflecting on the journey to this point, Blinken emphasized the unpredictability of Sweden’s NATO membership status just three years ago.
He highlighted the current situation as a stark illustration of the strategic blunder caused by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. According to Blinken, Sweden’s entry into NATO serves as a tangible consequence of Russia’s actions, emphasizing the shifting geopolitical landscape in the wake of recent events.
