NATO Sources: US and UK promise military presence before NATO decision

 

 

 

Of: John Granlund Olof Svensson 

 

Published: Today 18.39 

 

Updated: Less than 2 hours ago 

 

NEWS

Sweden has received concrete promises from the United Kingdom and the United States about protection during an application process to NATO, several sources state with insight into the Government Offices' work. 

 

It is about increased military presence, in-depth military exercises and "strong political" support from NATO countries. 

 

Statements that Sweden will not be protected or receive support during a possible application process play into Russia's hands, says a government source. 

 

The issue of security guarantees before any NATO membership is ratified by all NATO allies has been highly topical in recent weeks. 

 

Aftonbladet was able to report on Friday that discussions were held with Great Britain, at the same time Dagens Nyheter states that Sweden has no security guarantees until a NATO application is approved. 

 

A source told the newspaper that the US Deputy Secretary of Defense "made it clear that US security guarantees do not apply during the application process, but only apply in full membership". 

 

This is rejected by Aftonbladet's sources with insight into the conversations. 

Photo: HANS T DAHLSKOG / TT

 

Strong strengthening of our security 

 

Aftonbladet has spoken to several sources with deep insight into the preparatory work for a possible NATO application and the picture that emerges is that Sweden would in no way stand alone before a possible application was approved. 

 

- The government has received information from, among others, the USA and the UK about what the protection and support can look like during a possible application process, says a government source. 

 

The source states that the Government Offices are carrying out the same analysis as the former ambassador Krister Bringéus has expressed, that in practice Sweden will be treated as a full-fledged NATO member shortly after a declaration of interest. 

 

Sweden has received concrete promises from the UK and the US for protection during an application process to NATO, several sources tell Aftonbladet.

 

 

 

Sweden has received concrete promises from the UK and the US for protection during an application process to NATO, several sources tell Aftonbladet. Photo: Evan Vucci / AP 

 

Another transparent source indicates that NATO countries such as the United States, under the rules of the Defense Alliance, Article 8 of the Washington Treaty, are prevented from expressing any formal guarantees of protection to non-members. 

 

- A distinction must be made between defense guarantees and security-promoting measures. The guarantees, you get that when the ratification process is finished at the end of the year. But de facto, it is a strong strengthening of our security already from the time we have decided in Sweden, the source says. 

 

Stated security promises from several countries 

 

Two sources with transparency point out that there are explicit security promises from several countries, and special emphasis is placed on promises of increased military naval presence from the UK.

 

- It is about strong political support from NATO countries, in-depth exercise activities, increased NATO presence in the Baltic Sea region, in-depth intelligence cooperation and expert support to identify and counter hybrid threats, cyber threats and conventional threats, says a government source.

 

 

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson. Photo: Matt Dunham / AP 

 

Another source with transparency confirms the picture and states that there are promises of concrete "safety-promoting measures" and more qualified exercises - and that the most risky time from a safety point of view is now before a decision is made. 

 

- To the extent that there is an impressionable situation for Russia, it is probably really now until we submit the application. It is their "window of opportunity", says a source with insight. 

 

Weakenes threshold-raising signals 

 

A government source states that there has been an irritation in the Government Offices over information in articles from DN and Expressen where Sweden and Finland have been pointed out for lacking a guarantee of protection during an application process. This is because it risks contributing to fragmentation and insecurity in a sensitive situation, according to the source.

 

- The Armed Forces' command staff and the Ministry of Defense have confirmed that this weakens the threshold-raising Swedish security policy signals, the government source says. 

 

According to Aftonbladet's sources with insight into the work with the preparations, it is planned in the Government Offices that an application for membership in the NATO defense alliance can be submitted during week 20 in May, at the same time as Finland.