Swedes increasingly support leaving neutrality, joining NATO

As policymakers in Sweden and Finland ponder whether Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine Whether or not these countries should end decades of military neutrality, the survey shows that an increasing number of people support Sweden joining NATO.

A poll conducted by Demoskop and commissioned by the Aftonbladet newspaper showed that 57% of Swedes support the country becoming a NATO member, up from 51% in March. Sweden joins NATO dropped from 24% to 21% while undecided people dropped from 25% to 22%.

The March poll was the first to show a majority of Swedes in favor of joining NATO.

Sweden has not been at war since the time of Napoleon and has formulated its security policy in the direction of “not participating in military alliances”.

However, like Finland, Russia’s military operation in Ukraine has caused Sweden to rethink radically, Reuters reports. The two Nordic countries are now considered highly likely to join the 30-nation alliance.

The Swedish government is reviewing its security policy, with a report due before the end of May, and the ruling Social Democrats are holding an internal debate on whether to drop its opposition stance. long time with NATO or not.

Demoskop’s poll, which included 1,177 interviews conducted between April 14 and 19, also showed growing support among Social Democratic Party voters for Sweden’s accession. NATOwith more support for joining than against.