Sweden will formally seek NATO membership. On Sunday, the ruling body, the Swedish Social Democratic Party, approved the request to join the Atlantic Alliance, and on Monday the country officially announced its plan to proceed. The move followed Finland’s confirmation of its intent to apply for NATO membership the day before. Together, the two Baltic-adjacent nations are expected to submit a joint application in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Here are key points explaining the Swedish position:
Relationship between Sweden and Russia
The history between Sweden and Russia has long been marked by tension, with conflicts involving Finland often playing a central role. Many wars occurred during the 18th and 19th centuries, during which Sweden’s neutrality came under strain. Sweden pursued expansion in the Great Northern War and, after military successes in Norway, Poland, and Denmark, faced a major challenge with Russia in 1708. The Swedish king at the time, Charles XII, was defeated at the Battle of Poltava in 1709, where the Russian Army under Tsar Peter I, known as Peter the Great, prevailed.
In 1713, Russia began military actions in Finland, then part of Sweden. The campaign succeeded in incorporating Finland into Russia and extended to other Swedish territories such as Estonia, Livonia, Ingria, and Karelia. This shift established Russia as the dominant power in northern Europe, a status formalized by the Treaty of Nystad in 1721, which ended the Great Northern War.
Further conflicts in the 18th century involved Sweden and Russia, with Finland again at the center. The Hats Party’s leadership in Sweden sparked a war in 1741, and by 1743 Russia had gained several Swedish territories. In the war of 1788, King Gustav III attempted to seize Saint Petersburg but failed, leading to a peace agreement in 1790.
The so-called Finnish War concluded with a Russian victory in 1808, leading to Finland becoming a Grand Duchy under Russia.
Swedish neutrality
Sweden pursued a policy of neutrality extending into the 19th century, with official non-belligerence declared in 1834. From that point, Sweden did not take sides in armed conflicts, including during World War I and World War II. In World War II, Sweden came close to involvement after the Soviet invasion of Finland, though no Swedish troops participated.
During the Cold War, Sweden maintained a position of neutrality while coordinating with Western powers and maintaining ties with NATO in practice, though it did not join the alliance. In 1995, Sweden joined the European Union, adopting the euro is not part of its currency policy. In terms of military alignment, Sweden remained non-aligned with NATO. This stance was reaffirmed by the ruling Social Democratic Party when it rejected renewed calls to join the Alliance in 2021.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine significantly altered this posture. Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson expressed a readiness to engage more closely with NATO, noting that Sweden was nearly unique among Nordic states in its non-alignment. The move signals an end to nearly two centuries of neutrality for Sweden.
Who rules in Sweden?
Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. The head of state, King Carl XVI Gustaf, has served since 1973 in a largely ceremonial role.
The head of government, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, took office in November 2021 after her predecessor stepped down amid a no-confidence vote. As the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party, she presides over a minority government supported by a coalition that includes the Green Party and other independents. Her initial appointment occurred on November 24, 2021, following a vote in the Riksdag that reflected broad parliamentary support, but the budget proposal faced opposition and later changes.
The political landscape saw the Green Party briefly cease government participation before Andersson was re sworn in amid shifting support. Since then, the cabinet has comprised members from the Social Democratic Party with abstaining support from smaller parties, shaping a minority administration in Sweden’s unicameral parliament.