Sweden's road to NATO

• In 1994, Sweden joined the Partnership for Peace (PfP). The aim of the PfP was to build trust between NATO and other states in Europe and the former Soviet Union, and also to improve partner countries’ cooperation with NATO. In 1997, Sweden became a member of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, a forum for political dialogue that complemented the practical cooperation within the PfP.
  
  
• Since the 1990s, the Swedish Armed Forces has increased its ability to work with NATO by adopting the Organization’s standards, including English as the operational language. Through participation in NATO-led operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Libya and Iraq, the Swedish Armed Forces has also adapted to NATO interoperability standards.
  
  
• Since 2013, Sweden has – based on its own planning as a partner country – taken part in NATO’s most advanced collective defence exercises.
  
  
• In 2014, Sweden and Finland became Enhanced Opportunities Partners to NATO in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea. This involves enhanced security dialogue concerning the Baltic Sea region and an intensified exchange of information between Sweden, Finland and NATO.
  
  
• In 2016, Sweden signed a host country agreement with NATO. The host country agreement makes it easier for Sweden to receive support from NATO in response to a crisis or war, and it regulates what happens if foreign forces under NATO command are on Swedish territory. This has made it easier for Sweden to act as host country for joint international exercises.

Source: Swedish Defence Research Agency

• 24 February 2022 – Russia invades Ukraine
• 25 February 2022 – Sweden and Finland intensify their cooperation with NATO by activating Modalities for Strengthened Interaction, with increased exchange of information and coordination of activities and strategic communication concerning the crisis situation. Sweden also reinforces its relationship with NATO’s military headquarters and staffs.
• 16 March 2022 – Sweden’s Government initiates security policy deliberations.
• 13 May 2022 – Results of security policy deliberations presented.
• 16 May 2022 – Government decides that Sweden will apply for NATO membership
• 17–18 May 2022 – Formal request for NATO membership signed and presented.
• 28 June 2022 – A trilateral memorandum signed by Sweden, Finland and Türkiye, paving the way for Sweden’s and Finland’s accession to NATO (nato.int).
• 5 July 2022 – NATO members sign Accession Protocols for Sweden and Finland at North Atlantic Council meeting (nato.int)
• 5 October 2022 – Memorandum on Sweden’s NATO membership circulated

It is the Government’s assessment that NATO membership is the best way for Sweden to protect its security in light of the fundamentally changed security environment following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

On 16 March, the Government set up a working group to deliberate on the changed security environment following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The decision to apply for NATO membership was based in part on the working group’s report (Ds 2022:7).

In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Government set up a working group comprising representatives of all the parties of the Riksdag to deliberate on the changed security environment. On 13 May the working group published its report, Deterioration of the security environment – implications for Sweden (Ds 2022:7).

The report states:

“For Sweden, the primary effect of NATO membership would be that Sweden would become part of NATO’s collective security and be covered by the security guarantees enshrined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.”

Read the full report here: Deterioration of the security environment- implications for Sweden – government.se

As a NATO member, Sweden would be expected to provide staff to NATO’s political and military structures. Moreover, Sweden would be expected to contribute approximately SEK 600–700 million per year to NATO’s common budget.

In addition, Sweden would be expected to meet the stated target that Allies spend a minimum of 2 per cent of GDP on defence. This is consistent with the decision already taken to increase Sweden’s defence investments to 2 per cent of GDP by 2028. NATO members are also aiming to allocate at least 20 per cent of defence spending for materiel and research and development.

The formal application process for NATO membership is as follows:

1. The country (Sweden) notifies NATO that it wants to join.
2. NATO invites the aspirant country to accession talks.
3. NATO sets up a Membership Action Plan (MAP) to evaluate whether the country fulfils the criteria for membership. NATO may also decide not to invite a country to participate in the MAP.
4. Accesion talks are held.
5. The invitee country signs a letter of intent confirming its acceptance of the obligations and commitments of membership.
6. The NATO countries approve and ratify the Accession Protocols in their national parliaments.
7. The invitee country then ratifies the North Atlantic Treaty and becomes a NATO member.

Source: Swedish Defence Research Agency

5 July 2022: Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Norway

6 July 2022: Estonia, United Kingdom

7 July 2022: Albania

8 July 2022: Germany

12 July 2022: Netherlands, Luxembourg

13 July 2022: Bulgaria

14 July 2022: Latvia, Slovenia

15 July 2022: Croatia

20 July 2022: Lithuania, Poland

21 July 2022: Belgium, Romania

27 July 2022: North Macedonia

28 July 2022: Montenegro

2 August 2022: France

3 August 2022: Italy, United States

27 August 2022: Czech Republic

15 September 2022: Greece

16 September 2022: Portugal

21 September 2022: Spain

27 September 2022: Slovakia

The timeline above indicates the date of ratification by NATO Allies. To take effect, ratification instruments must be deposited with the United States Government.

Read more about the ratification process: Finland & Sweden Accession | NATO PA (nato-pa.int)