Swedish flag in Stockholm. Archival photo MOSCOW, May 15. Sweden, if its application to NATO is approved, will oppose the deployment of nuclear weapons and military bases on its territory, follows from the statement of the ruling Social Democratic Party. «… The Social Democrats will seek that Sweden, if the application is approved by NATO, express unilateral reservations against the deployment of nuclear weapons and permanent bases on Swedish soil,» the party said in a statement.
NATO will increase its presence in the Baltic before the accession of Sweden and FinlandOn Sunday, Sweden decided to apply for NATO membership. Finland has also officially decided to join the North Atlantic Alliance. Finland and Sweden started talking about the possibility of abandoning their long-term neutrality and joining NATO against the backdrop of the Russian military operation in Ukraine. The head of the alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, noted that the alliance would be glad to see Finland and Sweden in its ranks and provide them with the opportunity to quickly join. NATO expects these countries to make their own decisions about possible membership in the coming «months and weeks,» US Permanent Representative to NATO Julianne Smith said. She added that the United States would welcome the accession of these countries to the alliance. Russia has repeatedly noted that NATO is aimed at confrontation. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov stated that further expansion of the alliance would not bring greater security to Europe, NATO has an aggressive character. At the same time, he noted that he does not consider the possible entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO an existential threat to Russia.
