Sweden on Thursday became the 32nd member of NATO after depositing its NATO ratification instrument to the US Department of State.
Estonia welcomes Sweden’s accession to NATO, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said, describing it as a historic event.
“As of today, the entire Nordic and Baltic region belongs to NATO,” Kallas said. “This is a historic turning point that will strengthen the security of our entire region as well as the alliance.”
The premier recalled that in late 2021, Russia demanded the closure of NATO’s doors with ultimatums.
“Today, NATO is more united than ever and stronger with two powerful allies — Sweden and Finland,” the prime minister said.
She added that the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO will provide us with new opportunities for closer bilateral defense cooperation with both countries.
Estonia’s Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said Sweden’s NATO membership will significantly enhance the security of both the Baltic Sea and the alliance as a whole.
“It’s worth noting that both the armed forces and the defense industry will significantly strengthen NATO’s defense shield, and the s strategic location of Sweden will allow NATO greater freedom of action on the Baltic Sea. In short, Estonia and the Baltic region can feel considerably more secure,” he said.
“We and the Swedish people share the understanding that Russia is a direct threat to peace and security in the region,” Pevkur added. “We are naturally interested in intensifying practical cooperation with Sweden, both bilaterally and within NATO, in order to further develop the collective defense of the alliance in the best possible way.”
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Sweden’s accession will allow us to respond even more effectively to any challenges and threats in our region.
“The fact that Estonia and Sweden are no longer just neighbors and partners, but NATO allies, will enable closer cooperation in the field of defense and security, significantly enhance the security of the Baltic Sea region and improve the security of supply of NATO’s eastern flank,” Tsahkna said.
The minister said Sweden’s accession sends an important message about NATO’s open door policy.
“Article 10 of the Washington Treaty, signed 75 years ago, states that each European country must be able to decide on its own security arrangements,” Tsahkna said. “Sweden’s membership proves that the door of the alliance is open to democratic European countries and that all processes related to accession are decided only by the allies. Neither Russia nor anyone else has a power of veto over this.”