HS interview Sweden’s NATO membership caught up with the Social Democrats – this is how the party’s “one of the loudest NATO interlocutors” describes its NATO thinking

Stockholm

Are you applying Sweden NATO membership or not?

It now depends on the Social Democrats in the Prime Minister’s Party, which has not yet stated its position on membership.

Before a position is made or made public, it is discussed within the party.

Now the party’s reflection is really gaining momentum. On Friday, the party discussed security policy in all-day debates. In addition, the party plans to hold around the country discussion sessions where members speak their thoughts on possible membership.

One of the leaders of the Social Democrat debates is the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Kenneth G. Forslund. He describes himself as “one of the party’s loudest NATO interlocutors”.

Forslund plans to travel around Sweden for debates led by other prominent Social Democrats, such as former Foreign Minister Margot Wallström.

Wallström has already said he is open to changing its previous negative NATO stance.

Read more: Swedish Social Democrats open up to NATO debate – “If Finland goes, maybe we have to go too then,” said the former Foreign Minister

Also the Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has changed its way of talking about NATO during the Russian invasion: The strict “no” is gone. Now the NATO debate is also important for the Prime Minister.

At the time of the interview, Kenneth G. Forslund has just arrived from a meeting where the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committees of the Swedish Parliament have met their Finnish counterparts, the members of the Finnish Foreign Affairs Committee. The message from the Finns to the Swedes was clear: Finland is on its way to NATO, hopefully Sweden will join.

Read more: The Foreign Affairs Committee visited Sweden to discuss NATO issues: “Here we have tried all over the world to tell the circus that the decision has been made”

According to Forslund, the Swedish NATO debate is Finland “a couple of rounds behind”. That was one reason the Swedish government said on Thursday that it was working to bring forward the government’s NATO investigation. All parties are involved in the investigation. It should be ready by 13 May, three weeks from now.

However, it is possible that the Social Democrats’ own internal process is still underway at the time, says Forslund.

“The government’s report can serve as an important basis for our discussion.”

The Social Democrats have not yet announced the timing of their debates to the public, however afternoon newspaper Aftonbladetin according to the information, their most intensive phase would be just before the deadline set by the government for its investigation. It has also been suggested in the past that the party will state its position no later than May 24th.

Read more: Support for NATO membership saw a historic turnaround in Sweden

However, according to Forslund, it is now possible that the party’s schedules may be brought forward. The change in schedules has not yet been announced.

Forslund’s own position on NATO membership has long been negative, but now he is not saying his position. According to Forslund, the Russian invasion has changed the security situation so that the position needs to be reconsidered.

“Now there is a new situation and we have to make a new decision. Also, ‘no to membership’ would now be a new decision. The new decision must be based on the current reality and not on the reality we lived in in November, when the party’s congress decided to take a negative view of NATO membership, ”says Forslund.

Question NATO and military non-alignment are important to Sweden and the Social Democrats, part of their identity.

According to Forslund, non-alignment is a more than 200-year-old tradition for Sweden. It has given Sweden a special international status. Sweden has been allowed to live in peace after wars have taken place around it.

Read more: Only a handful of people knew – These were the secret security guarantees Sweden received from the United States, where Finland’s place was barren

However, public opinion on NATO has changed rapidly. For the first time, a majority of Swedes, 51 per cent, are in favor of NATO membership. This was revealed in a survey commissioned by Swedish television SVT and published this week. The support is considerably higher, at 64 per cent, if Finland applies to NATO.

In a recent survey of Aftonbladet, membership was supported by 57 percent.

Forslund says he has followed a rapid change in opinion in puzzlement. He wonders if some of those who have changed their minds have an overly optimistic picture of NATO.

“Do people think NATO is a separate organization waiting somewhere on the sidelines and emerging at a time of crisis and conflict. That’s not the case, ”says Forslund.

According to Forslund, it is important to understand that NATO’s strength is based on the military strength of its member states. NATO does not have its own forces and resources, Forslund says.

“Most, and indeed all, European members of NATO have long been downplaying their defense capabilities. From a Swedish perspective, the countries’ defense looks roughly as good as Sweden’s. Finland has not reduced its defense capabilities in the last twenty years like the rest of Western Europe, so Finland is much better equipped, ”says Forslund.

In the Swedish NATO debate, there is according to Forslund, focused a lot on what kind of help the security guarantees of NATO’s Fifth Article would bring to Sweden, but Sweden’s own contribution to the military alliance has been forgotten in the debate.

“Solidarity is not a one-way street. It goes both ways. This means that Sweden must also give its support to others. Swedish troops could be sent somewhere else. ”

“I don’t think so many have thought about what membership would really entail.”

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Sweden’s own contribution to the military alliance has been forgotten in the debate.

Mr Forslund emphasized the importance of the debate. He also emphasizes that the dialogue with Finland must be as close as possible.

It is important to keep pace with Finland and tighten the pace if necessary. It is also important to communicate Sweden’s position to Finland immediately.

“We need to inform and discuss with Finland. It must not be the case that you have to read about it in the newspapers, but the information has to come straight, whether we say yes or no, ”says Forslund and refers to Sweden’s EU membership process, about which the country did not inform Finland well enough.

Read more: Marin at his press conference in Stockholm: Co-ordination with Sweden is sought, but it is not a precondition

Russia has threatened Finland and Sweden, among other things, with “serious military political consequences” if the countries decide to apply for NATO membership.

According to Forslund, it is clear that Finland and Sweden will make their own decisions in the NATO case.

“Sweden’s NATO membership will not end in Moscow.”

According to Forslund, NATO support in Sweden will only increase with Russian threats.

“The Russians are thinking this completely wrong. Their reaction doesn’t drive them and I don’t know if they understand it. ”

Now Sweden The government has emphasized the importance of discussions with Finland, and Sweden’s position on NATO is known to the Swedes.

Last week prime minister Sanna Marin made an eye-catching visit to Stockholm. The Committee on Foreign Affairs visited Stockholm this week. In addition, the Conservative parties of both countries made a joint trip to Washington.

17-18 day in May president Sauli Niinistö makes a state visit to Sweden King Charles XVI of Gustav invitation.

By then, the Swedish government’s NATO report should be ready. But it is time to see if the Social Democrats will have concluded their debate by then.