Sweden received security guarantees from the US when it applied to join NATO

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde (left) and her US counterpart Antony Blinken in Washington, USA – Photo: REUTERS

“Of course I won’t go into details, but I feel very certain that we now have assurances from the US. However, not full guarantees, as a member of the NATO,” Ms. Linde said.

Linde also declined to say what assurances she had received from her US counterpart Antony Blinken, according to the newspaper. Guardian.

“These conditions will make it clear to Russia that the United States will not sit idly by if Moscow takes the negative actions against Sweden, which Moscow has threatened,” Linde added.

Sweden and neighboring Finland stayed out of NATO during the cold war. However, Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, and Moscow’s special military operation in Ukraine now, have made these two countries rethink their security policies.

Sweden and Finland both fear they will become vulnerable during the accession process, which can take up to a year to be approved by all NATO members.

In April, Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist said that the application for accession could prompt a number of responses from Russia, including cyber attacks and other measures such as propaganda campaigns aimed at sabotaging Russia. Swedish security.

Moscow has warned that it could deploy nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles in the city of Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave between Poland and Lithuania, if Sweden and Finland become NATO members.

Linde said the US strongly supports Sweden and Finland becoming NATO members, saying it will increase stability in the Baltic region and the Arctic.

It is expected that Sweden and Finland will make a decision on whether to apply to join NATO this May.