International security

Sweden rules out NATO membership

Sweden will not make a formal bid to join NATO for fear of escalating further the already tense situation that exists between the West and Russia over the annexation of Crimea and the continued crisis in Ukraine, the country's defence minister said on 17 May.

Speaking to reporters in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, Peter Hultqvist said that changing the country's non-aligned status to become a fully-fledged member of NATO was not likely to help the overall security situation of either Sweden or the wider Baltic region.

"Our government has said we should not apply for NATO membership. Our strategy is to create long-term stability and not to work in an unpredictable way. We will not be part of a situation that could be used by others to create a higher level of tension," Hultqvist said.