NORFOLK, VA. – As Sweden prepares to join NATO, military representatives from Sweden met with NATO Allied Command Transformation staff to discuss accession and integration considerations.
NATO’s Allied Command Transformation had previously established Accession & Integration Working Groups for both Finland and Sweden. After the successful accession of Finland, the Alliance is working to complete the accession process for Sweden. Recently, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg shared: “Now, Finland is a member [of NATO], and we are working hard to also get Sweden as a full member in the near future.”
Swedish Vice Admiral Jonas Björnson Haggren and a delegation of Swedish military representatives visited Norfolk, Virginia, NATO’s home in North America. Sweden is now preparing to complete their accession process, with military integration to follow. Vice Admiral Guy Robinson, Chief of Staff at NATO Allied Command Transformation, welcomed the Swedish delegation and led a series of discussions on anticipated steps throughout the accession and integration process. Vice Admiral Robinson, a decorated Royal Navy Commander, has extensive experience integrating various military capabilities throughout the Alliance.
Sweden has long been a close partner of NATO, with cooperation throughout the Alliance for several decades. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sweden’s stance of military non-alignment shifted; Finland and Sweden are now completing the fastest accession process in NATO’s history. Vice Admiral Haggren, who will soon serve as the Swedish Military Representative to the European Union and NATO, thanked NATO Allied Command Transformation and Vice Admiral Robinson for the ongoing support received throughout the accession and integration process.