Sweden’s flag raised outside NATO headquarters in Brussels

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) - The Swedish flag has been raised outside NATO headquarters in Brussels on Monday, marking the Nordic country's entry into the alliance as its 32nd member.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg described it as "a historic day" at a press conference in Brussels following Sweden's ratification.

“After over 200 years of non-alignment Sweden now enjoys the protection granted under Article 5, the ultimate guarantee of Allies’ freedom and security,” Stoltenberg said, adding that Sweden's entry benefits both Sweden and the alliance's security.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has failed in his goal of preventing NATO expansion, he remarked.

“Sweden has come home,” said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, while thanking Stoltenberg for his support throughout the process.

“Sweden is now part of NATO - a proud member and ally, together with our closest friends and partners,” he said.

“We are humble but also proud. We know that expectations for Sweden are high. And we have high expectations of ourselves,” Kristersson added.

For Sweden, this marks the end of a nearly two-year wait that began in May 2022, when the Nordic country submitted its application to join the Western military alliance alongside neighboring Finland, just three months after the war in Ukraine began.

Finland joined NATO last year, while Sweden's application was delayed by Türkiye due to Ankara's complaints that Stockholm was reluctant to crack down on terrorist groups on its soil, namely the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Ankara, the US, UK, and EU.

Türkiye's parliament approved Sweden's membership bid in January, but Hungary delayed it until Kristersson paid a visit to Budapest on Feb. 23, after which Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban approved Sweden's accession last month.