Sweden joined NATO.

The Protocol on Sweden’s accession to NATO has entered into force, the US State Department announced on its website.

⠀

“The protocol entered into force on March 7, 2024,” the publication says.

⠀

Thus, the Scandinavian country became the 32nd member of the North Atlantic Alliance. The Swedish flag-raising ceremony at NATO headquarters in Brussels will take place on March 11.

⠀

Initially, Türkiye and Hungary did not approve of Sweden’s application. Ankara opposed Stockholm’s support for Kurdish groups and restrictions on arms exports. Positive changes emerged after Sweden, in negotiations with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, agreed in exchange for the ratification of its application to NATO to help intensify the process of Turkey’s accession to the EU. Ankara ratified the application in January this year.

⠀

In Hungary, local deputies have long opposed the initiative, noting that the Swedish authorities are spreading “shameless lies” about their country. President Tamas Szujok signed the law ratifying the agreement on Sweden’s accession to the North Atlantic Alliance last Wednesday.