STOCKHOLM – The leader of Sweden’s second-largest opposition party will suggest that his party change its stance in favor of Swedish membership should neighboring Finland apply to join NATO, he told daily Svenska Dagbladet.
A change in stance by the Sweden Democrats would mean a swing to a parliamentary majority in favor of long-neutral Sweden joining the alliance.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has prompted the two countries to consider joining, although Sweden is more hesitant than Finland, which shares a 1,300km border with Russia.
The Finnish government has announced that it will clarify the next steps regarding a possible decision to apply for membership in the coming weeks.
“Then (if Finland applies) my ambition is to go to the party council and ask that we change our minds,” the paper quoted Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Akesson as saying in an interview on Saturday.
“What has changed now is that Finland is clearly moving towards NATO membership and there are many signs that this could happen in the near future. That and the fact that Ukraine, which is not a NATO member, is completely alone made me turn around.”
The nationalist Sweden Democrats said last month they were reconsidering their stance after a poll showed a majority of Swedes were in favor of joining NATO for the first time.
(Reporting by Anna Ringstrom; Editing by Angus MacSwan)