Sweden's Largest Daily Indirectly Supports NATO Membership: "Security Impossible Outside NATO"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] A daily newspaper boasting the highest sales volume in Sweden has indirectly expressed support for Sweden's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) through an editorial.

According to major foreign media on the 20th, Anders Lindberg, political editor of the Swedish tabloid daily Aftonbladet, wrote in an editorial that "Sweden and Finland cannot find a way to ensure security outside NATO." He referred to NATO's invasion of Ukraine, a non-NATO member country, stating, "I am not sure if being a non-NATO member is militarily sufficient." He also said, "We must take Russia's statements seriously because Russia is not expected to stop in Ukraine."

On the same day, Aftonbladet also released poll results showing strong public support for NATO membership. While 57% of respondents supported joining NATO, only 21% opposed it. Aftonbladet reported that for the first time, a poll targeting supporters of the ruling Social Democratic Party showed higher support for NATO membership, with 41% in favor and 25% opposed.

The Social Democratic Party has traditionally maintained an anti-NATO membership stance. Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, a member of the Social Democratic Party, recently acknowledged that the security landscape has completely changed but expressed a cautious position, saying, "We need to analyze the situation to find the best choice for the Swedish people." Foreign media explained that the Social Democratic Party values Sweden's status as a neutral country for 200 years and is the biggest obstacle to Sweden's NATO membership.

Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson (left) and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

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Finland shows a somewhat more proactive attitude toward NATO membership than Sweden. The Finnish Parliament began discussions on whether to join NATO on the same day. Sweden is likely to submit its NATO membership application before the NATO summit scheduled to be held in Madrid, Spain, in June. Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said, "We will decide on NATO membership within a few weeks."

If Finland applies for NATO membership, Sweden's chances of joining NATO will also increase. The Sweden Democrats, a nationalist opposition party, stated that they would support Sweden's NATO membership if Finland joins NATO. Another opposition party, the Centre Party, led by Ulf Kristersson, has argued that Sweden and Finland should jointly decide on NATO membership. The Centre Party and the Sweden Democrats hold 70 and 61 seats respectively, making them the first and second largest opposition parties in Sweden. The ruling Social Democratic Party holds 100 seats.

With a general election scheduled for September, it is difficult for the Social Democratic Party to ignore public opinion trends.

The Social Democratic Party has started internal discussions on NATO membership and is expected to reach a conclusion by the end of May. Earlier, local media reported that Prime Minister Andersson wanted the Social Democratic Party to support NATO membership, but Andersson denied the related reports.

NATO supports Sweden and Finland's membership as it can strengthen the security of the Baltic Sea and the three Baltic NATO member countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania).

There is also analysis that the second round of the French presidential election on the 24th could be a variable for Finland and Sweden's NATO membership, as Marine Le Pen, the National Rally candidate, advocates for France's withdrawal from NATO.

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