The Swedish flag was raised at the NATO headquarters

The flag of Sweden, the 32nd member of NATO, was raised at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.
Following the approval of Turkey and Hungary, Sweden, which completed its accession process to NATO, held a flag ceremony at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. At the ceremony attended by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, the Swedish flag was raised to the national anthem of the country.

Stoltenberg stated in his speech at the ceremony that today is a historic day and said, “We welcome Sweden’s joining NATO at a critical time for our common security.”
Stoltenberg, mentioning that 32 flags are flying together at the NATO headquarters, said, “Sweden’s membership has strengthened NATO, made Sweden and all of us safer.” Stoltenberg also said that Sweden’s membership once again reminded that NATO’s door is open to everyone and added, “No one can close this door. Every nation has the right to choose its own path. We all choose the path of freedom and democracy. While we speak, the brave people of Ukraine are fighting for these values.”

“Sweden has returned home”
In his speech, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that Sweden has been a proud member of NATO since last Thursday and said, “NATO is the most successful organization ever for peace and security. We are now an ally. This is a historic step after more than 200 years of military non-alignment. But it is also a very natural step. We have been preparing for decades. Specifically, we have been preparing for the last two years. With this membership, Sweden has returned home,” he said.

Kristersson, reminding that Sweden joined the Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and has participated in all major NATO operations and numerous exercises since then, said, “After Russia’s war against Ukraine began, Sweden’s NATO membership became the only logical option.” Kristersson used the expression “Sweden, as a strong democracy, will defend the values that bind us together in the Washington Treaty, such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.”

Kristersson stated that Sweden’s modern armed forces are well trained on land, in the air, and at sea and will strengthen NATO. “We will learn and teach,” said Kristersson. Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson expressed that Sweden’s NATO membership is not an end but a beginning and said, “I am eager to work with all our allies to make the world a safer and freer place.”

Following the approval of the Hungarian Parliament on February 26, Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok signed the decision on Sweden’s accession to NATO on March 5. Sweden delivered its accession documents to the United States on March 7, making it the 32nd member of the alliance.
The bill on Sweden’s accession to NATO was approved in the Turkish Grand National Assembly on January 23.