Sweden fears an assault from Russia in an interim interval if the nation applies to affix NATO.
The UK has pledged to defend Sweden if the nation got here beneath assault, with Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Magdalena Andersson signing a safety assurance deal outdoors Stockholm.
The accord was signed on Wednesday as Sweden and Finland are pondering whether or not to affix NATO following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Andersson mentioned Russia would improve its “navy presence on this area if Sweden and/or Finland sends in an software”.
Ought to they apply, there shall be an interim interval lasting from when an software has been handed in till all 30 NATO members’ parliaments have ratified it.
Johnson is later anticipated to make an identical defence dedication to Finland, the place he'll meet President Sauli Niinisto.
The settlement will “fortify Northern Europe’s defences, within the face of renewed threats”, Johnson mentioned in an announcement, including it “is an emblem of the eternal assurance between our nations”.
“These will not be a short-term stop-gap, however a long-term dedication to bolster navy ties and world stability, and fortify Europe’s defences for generations to return,” Johnson mentioned within the assertion.
Finland shares a 1,340km (830-mile) land border with Russia.
“And whether or not it’s within the occasion of a catastrophe or a navy assault, what we’re saying in the present day is that upon request from the opposite get together, we'd come to the opposite events’ help,” Johnson informed a joint information convention. He mentioned the battle in Ukraine is Russian President Vladimir “Putin’s bloodthirsty marketing campaign towards a sovereign nation”.
Andersson mentioned: “Putin thought he may trigger division, however he has achieved the alternative. We stand right here in the present day extra united than ever.”
British troop deployments
Johnson met Andersson in Harpsund, the nation retreat of Swedish prime ministers, which is positioned about 90km (55 miles) southwest of Stockholm.
Johnson, who mentioned Putin was “a Twenty first-century tyrant”, additionally provided throughout his one-day go to to extend the deployments of British troops and navy belongings to the area.
The UK is already current within the Baltic Sea areas with the Joint Expeditionary Drive, which consists of 10 Northern European nations: Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Norway together with the UK.
In 2017, Sweden and Finland joined the British-led navy speedy response drive, which is designed to be extra versatile and reply faster than the bigger NATO alliance.
It makes use of NATO requirements and doctrine, so it will possibly function at the side of NATO, the UN or different multinational coalitions. Totally operational since 2018, the forces have held a lot of workouts independently and in cooperation with NATO.
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