Sweden’s ruling party split on NATO membership

The ruling political party of Switzerland are said to be divided over whether to join NATO, as the women’s wing of the Social Democrats calls for maintaining the country’s military neutrality.

Annika Strandhall, the Swedish Minister of Climate and Environment, told the Stockholm newspaper Svenska Dagbalet that the female side of the party opposes joining NATO. The faction has a “long history and struggles on issues of peace, disarmament, and military freedom,” said Strandhall, chairwoman of the federal women’s panel.

Ms Strandhall’s comments marked the first major political protest against Sweden’s proposal to join NATO and came shortly before a review of the country’s security policy on May 13. The coalition government is expected to decide on the matter on May 24, after the Foreign Ministry publishes a review of Sweden’s security position.

Another key figure in parliament, the leader of the Swedish Democratic Party Jimmie Akesson, said last month that he would recommend the right-wing opposition party backs joining NATO if the neighboring country Finland Please join the union.

Mr. Akesson had long opposed renouncing Sweden’s military independence, as did most Swedes, but public opinion began to change dramatically after Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine in late February. .

A survey conducted by Novus last month found that 51% of Swedes support joining the Western military bloc, the first time poll respondents have found a majority support for joining the Western military bloc. join NATO.

Similarly, a poll by media outlet YLE showed a record 62% of Finns in favor of NATO membership, after previous polls showed most people opposed joining. block.

Sweden has a history of military neutrality spanning two centuries, having stayed out of wars since 1814. Finland has maintained its neutrality since the end of World War 2.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has pledged to quickly approve Sweden and Finland if they apply to join the alliance. Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said last month that a public referendum on the issue would not be needed if parliament approved it.

Some world leaders, such as Chinese officials and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, argue that NATO incited the Ukraine crisis by breaking a pledge not to expand eastwards after the War The cold ended in 1991. On May 3, Pope Francis said that NATO is close to the door Russia may have triggered Moscow’s decision to launch an attack on Ukraine.