(International agencies) - Sweden’s prime minister, Magdalena Andersson, told parliament today, Monday, May 16, 2022, that joining Nato ‘is the best thing for Sweden’s security’. 

The Swedish government has confirmed today, Monday, May 16, 2022, its intention to apply for membership of Nato, joining neighboring Finland in a dramatic decision that marks one of the biggest strategic consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to date.

“There is a broad majority in Sweden’s parliament for Sweden to join Nato,” said the prime minister, Magdalena Andersson. “This is the best thing for the security of Sweden and its people … We are leaving one era behind us and entering a new one.”

Andersson told reporters after a parliamentary debate on Monday that Sweden would be “in a vulnerable position” while the application was processed, but that ministers saw no direct military threat from Russia at present.

Stockholm had received security assurances from key partners, including the US, Britain, Germany, France, she said, and on Monday Denmark, Norway and Iceland also pledged support, saying they would “assist Finland and Sweden by all necessary means” if they were attacked before obtaining Nato membership.

However, the government “can’t exclude that we will be subjected, for example, to disinformation and attempts to scare and divide us”, Andersson said, adding that if its application was approved, Sweden would not want permanent Nato military bases or nuclear weapons on its territory.

Andersson said Sweden’s Nato ambassador would formally hand over Stockholm’s application to the alliance headquarters in Brussels “within the next few days”, adding that the membership request would be submitted simultaneously with Finland’s.

The Finnish government confirmed its intention to join Nato earlier on Sunday, shortly before Swedish government confirmed its intention to join Nato as well.