At a time when the international situation is changing, Sweden has officially stepped into the NATO family, which has aroused widespread attention and heated discussions. As one of the most influential military organizations in the Western world, NATO's move to absorb Sweden is seen as a strategic challenge to Russia, and it also makes the European security landscape in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict more confusing.
The background to Sweden's accession to NATO is multifaceted. Since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, the security situation in Europe has been tense. Russia's actions have raised concerns among European countries about the security of their neighbors. Sweden has long pursued a policy of neutrality, but in the face of the Russian threat, it has begun to reassess its security position. Between 2014 and 2022, Sweden participated in a number of NATO joint military exercises and strengthened its cooperation with NATO. In 2022, Sweden officially submitted its application to join NATO, which was supported by NATO and most member states.
The significance of Sweden's accession to NATO is self-evident. This is not only a political statement, but also an important change in the geopolitical landscape. Sweden's accession has made almost all countries on the Baltic Sea coast a member of NATO, forming the so-called "NATO lake", and NATO's influence and control in this region have increased significantly. For NATO, this means not only a stronger deterrent, but also the possibility of more effectively limiting Russia's space for maneuver, monitoring the Arctic region, and strengthening control over the Baltic Sea.
However, Sweden's accession to NATO has also provoked strong opposition from Russia. Russia considers NATO's expansion to be a direct threat to its security and violates the agreement in the Russia-NATO Basic Document, signed by Russia and NATO in 1997, not to deploy large-scale military forces on each other's territory. In addition, Russia fears that NATO's activities in the Baltic region could threaten the security of its western borders.
Against the backdrop of Sweden's accession to NATO, the European security landscape has become more complex. Tensions between Russia and Western countries continue to be high, and the situation in the Ukraine crisis is also worrying. Western countries' support for Ukraine is increasing, including the provision of ** equipment and military assistance. Russia strongly opposes this, believing that the actions of Western countries have undermined regional stability and peace.
Against this background, how to maintain Europe's security and stability has become an important issue for all parties. First, all parties should strengthen dialogue and communication, resolve differences through diplomatic means, and avoid the occurrence of military conflicts. Second, international cooperation should be strengthened to jointly address global challenges, including climate change and terrorism. Finally, it is necessary to strengthen the building of the international legal system, safeguard international order and rules, and promote world peace and development.
To sum up, Sweden's accession to NATO will have a profound impact on the European security landscape and international relations. All parties should maintain a calm and rational attitude and work together to maintain regional peace and stability. Long-term peace and prosperity in Europe can be achieved only through the efforts of all parties.