"Sorry Russia, it's NATO's lake"

 

NATO  

 

The world's media about the announcement: "The Baltic Sea will become a NATO lake" 

 

Ebba Torstensson  

 

Updated 12.34 | Published at 07.45  

 

22 months later, Sweden's NATO application has been approved. 

 

In the world's media, the process is described as protracted, but the message is historic. 

 

The Baltic Sea is now referred to as a "NATO lake".  

 

Quick version 

• After 22 months, Sweden's NATO application has been approved, which is described as historic.
• The entire Baltic Sea region, with the exception of Russia, is now a member of NATO, which led to the Baltic Sea being called the "Nato Sea".
• The decision comes at a time when support for Ukraine is vital and despite previous disagreements over NATO's future.
  

Hungary's parliament finally approved Sweden's NATO application yesterday. Something that is well received by the neighboring countries.  

 

"We look forward to bringing our neighbor into the alliance. This coming also completes our own membership," writes Finland's outgoing president Sauli Niinistö on X. 

 

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre describes the announcement as historic. "That the Nordic countries come together in NATO is historic.  

 

It is a new strength for our security, for NATO and for the Nordics," he writes on X.

 

The picture shows a military exercise in the Stockholm archipelago. Photo: Emma Wallskog / Schibsted

   

The New York Times' Jonathan Wolfe is, however, critical of what the process has now led to.  

 

"The protracted process to get to this point leaves a bitter aftertaste, and will not change Orban's reputation as a troublemaker more interested in cozying up to Putin than supporting the alliance," he writes. 

 

"Nato Lake" 

 

With Sweden as a member, all countries around the Baltic Sea are members of the alliance except Russia. This means that the Baltic Sea is now described as a "Nato lake" in the Daily mail.
 

- If you look at the map, the Baltic Sea geographically becomes a NATO lake, yes, says Minna Alander, researcher at the Finnish International Institute to the Daily Mail.  

 

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Hungary. Photo: Denes Erdos / AP

 

Politico is also on the same track with the headline "Sorry Russia, the Baltic Sea is now NATO's lake".

 

"Sweden and Finland make NATO much more geographically coherent. The Baltic Sea becomes a NATO sea, which is generally useful, also because of its increased influence," Ulrike Franke, senior researcher at the European Council for Foreign Affairs, told the newspaper. 

 

A long goodbye  

 

The drawn-out approval comes at a time when NATO allies are trying to unify support for Ukraine and maintain trust despite Donald Trumps threats about NATO's potential future.  

 

"When the allies finally gather at NATO headquarters in Brussels to raise Sweden's flag, there will be celebration, of course, but they are also exhausted and sighing with relief," writes the Washington Post.  

 

The British tabloid Daily Mail reports on Hungary's yes. In a headline on Politico, the Baltic Sea is described as "Nato's lake". Putin may not have expected Sweden to join NATO - as a consequence of the invasion of Ukraine, writes the New York Times.

 

  

 

The Guardian: Sweden completes its " long farewell to neutrality " with NATO accession. In a headline on Politico, the Baltic Sea is described as "Nato's lake".  

1 / 4Photo: Screenshot Politico  

 

The Guardian writes that Sweden has now taken a longt farewell to neutrality, quoted by Robert Dalsjö, senior analyst at FOI.  

 

According to him, it is a process that started already at the end of the Cold War and Sweden applied for EU membership.