Hungary’s parliament voted to approve Sweden’s bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), making it the 32nd nation to join the alliance.
Key Points About NATO’s Expansion
- Hungary’s vote ended months of delays to complete Sweden’s security policy shift
- Sweden is leaving 200 years of neutrality and military non-alignment behind
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government has faced pressure from NATO allies to fall in line and seal Sweden’s accession to the alliance.
- With Sweden following Finland into NATO, Russian President Vladimir Putin has in effect achieved the very thing he sought to avert when he launched his war in Ukraine – an expansion of the alliance
- The accession of Sweden, which has not been at war since 1814, and Finland is the most significant expansion of the alliance since it took in members from eastern Europe after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.
- Sweden also brings resources such as cutting-edge submarines tailored to Baltic Sea conditions and a sizable fleet of domestically produced Gripen fighter jets into the alliance.
- It is increasing military spending and should reach NATO’s threshold of 2% of GDP this year.
What is NATO?
- NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is an intergovernmental military alliance established in 1949.
- It was formed as a collective defense pact between North American and European nations to deter Soviet expansion and protect member states from potential Soviet aggression during the Cold War.
- The founding members of NATO were the United States, Canada, and ten European nations including Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.
- A key provision of the treaty, the so-called Article 5, states that if one member of the alliance is attacked in Europe or North America, it is to be considered an attack on all members.
- NATO’s headquarters are located at Boulevard Leopold III in the city of Brussels, Belgium, where the Supreme Allied Commander resides.
Criteria for NATO Membership
To become a member of NATO, a country must meet the following criteria:
Political and economic stability: The country must have a stable democratic government, a functioning market economy, and a proven record of respecting human rights and the rule of law.
Military readiness: The country must have a capable and well-trained military that can contribute to the collective defense of the alliance. This includes a commitment to investing in defense and maintaining modern equipment.
Commitment to collective defense: The country must be willing and able to contribute to the collective defense of the alliance, including by supporting other member countries in times of need.
Compatibility with NATO values: The country must share the values of the alliance, including a commitment to democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law.
Geographic proximity: While not an official requirement, NATO tends to give preference to countries that are in close geographic proximity to existing members, as this makes it easier to coordinate and deploy forces in times of crisis
NATO’s Growing Membership
- There are currently 31 member states.
- Its original members were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
- Joining the original signatories were Greece and Turkey (1952), West Germany (1955, from 1990 as Germany), Spain (1982), the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland (1999), Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia (2004), Albania and Croatia (2009), Montenegro (2017), and North Macedonia (2020).
- France withdrew from the integrated military command of NATO in 1966 but remained a member of the organization, it resumed its position in NATO’s military command in 2009.
- Recently, Finland joined NATO and Sweden have shown interest to join NATO.
Objectives of NATO
- NATO’s essential and enduring purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members by political and military means.
- NATO promotes democratic values and enables members to consult and cooperate on defense and security-related issues to solve problems, build trust and, in the long run, prevent conflict.
- NATO is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military power to undertake crisis-management operations.
The Future of NATO
Sweden’s accession marks a significant milestone for NATO, especially in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing security concerns in Eastern Europe. As NATO continues to grow, the alliance’s ability to respond to emerging threats will be increasingly important.
Sweden’s decision to join NATO reflects a larger trend of European countries reassessing their security policies amid rising geopolitical tensions. Sweden’s membership not only strengthens NATO but also brings essential military capabilities and strategic positioning in the Baltic region.
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