'Longfarewell' Nato accession marks change of national identity

Just a few short months ago, Sweden's Nato membership seemed a very long way from being a done deal.

- Miranda Bryant STOCKHOLM

Having submitted its application to join in May 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it seemed at times as though Stockholm might be left hanging interminably. While Finland, which had applied to join the alliance at the same time, became a member at record speed last April, Sweden got stuck in a diplomatic quagmire.

Last year a series of Qur'an burnings in Sweden inflamed ties with Turkey. As recently as September, Viktor Orbán's government was embroiled in a public war of words with Sweden over criticism of Hungary's democracy and teaching in Swedish schools. Late in January, after Turkey's parliament gave Sweden the green light, the Hungarian prime minister pushed for negotiations in a public letter to his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson.