The head of state noted that much has already been said about the positive aspects Sweden’s membership would bring to the alliance’s security. “They range from how much easier it will now be for us to keep our military support lines open across the Baltic Sea and how this will guarantee forces on the other side of the Atlantic greater freedom of movement, to the significant contribution Sweden’s modern and powerful army, navy and airforce will make to fulfilling NATO’s collective defence plans in the Baltic Sea region,” he said. “Swedish membership of the alliance will guarantee all of this.”
President Karis expressed his delight that in a world where opponents want to see the West divided, Sweden’s accession to NATO is a bold example of the true strength of Western unity.
“At a time when autocrats around the globe are viewing the free world as weak and fragmented, Sweden’s decision to join NATO shows only too clearly how wrong they are,” he said. “If the times call for it, Europe and the countries of the North Atlantic will rally around the shared values that make us who we are – first and foremost our national freedom of choice and a rules-based world order. This shows that not only are we prepared to defend those values as one, but that we have taken the decision to do so.”
President Karis thanked Sweden for making NATO stronger, and expressed his hope that by working together in the alliance Estonia and Sweden would make it stronger still.
