Sweden thinks joining NATO would further destabilize Ukraine

Swedish PM Magdalena Andersson has warned that submitting an application to join NATO at this time would further destabilize the situation in Europe.

She made the comment during a press conference on Tuesday, implying that further steps toward joining NATO would have a negative impact on the security situation in Ukraine.

While Andersson denounced Russia’s actions in Ukraine calling the intervention as illegal, she is calling for violence against all civilians to stop and did not seem interested in further entangling Sweden in this ethnic conflict.

Stockholm has successfully delivered military equipment, she explained, and appears to be looking for further ways to support Kiev – such as strengthening its resistance to cyber-attacks – that don’t run the risk of directly involving the nation in hostilities.

Sweden and Finland recently wrote a joint letter to the other member of the EU reminding them of the common defense clause within the Treaty of Lisbon.

Treaty of Lisbon requires EU countries to provide mutual support and assistance should a Member State be subjected to an armed attack on its territory.

The clause serves the same purpose as NATO’s Article 5, which declares that an attack on one NATO state is considered an attack on all members and will be retaliated against accordingly.

Sweden’s center-right opposition parties have long sought NATO membership for the country, a move the governing Social Democrats have historically opposed.

While Andersson acknowledged on Saturday that the security situation had been altered in a dramatic way, and that NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg has hinted the door is open to a quick accession to the alliance, no public plans have been made to join.

EU nations, including Sweden, were placed on a list of “unfriendly countries” by Russia on Monday after the bloc imposed a sweeping sanctions regime on Moscow following the offensive in Ukraine.

Andersson noted that the designation would likely have “consequences” for the Swedish economy. In addition to the EU and Five Eyes countries, the list includes Iceland, South Korea, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, Japan, Montenegro, San Marino, and Taiwan.

RT. com / ABC Flash Point News 2022.