Swedish Foreign Minister Anne Linde signed the petition stating that the country wants to join NATO on Tuesday morning.
The move marks Stockholm's official step toward joining the military alliance, ending decades of military neutrality as Russia's invasion of Ukraine triggered a dramatic shift in the European security and geopolitical chessboard.
"It feels like something very big, very serious, and it's like we've come to a conclusion that's best for Sweden," Linde said."
"We don't know how long it will take, but we estimate it could take up to a year. Now this week, this application will be submitted, along with Finland's, in a day or so, and then it will be processed by NATO," she explained."
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said Monday that the country should join NATO along with neighboring Finland to "ensure the security of the Swedish people.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the entry of the two Scandinavian countries into NATO "will not pose a threat to Russia," but at the same time asserted that the development of military infrastructure on their territory "will certainly provoke our response."
Source: skai.gr
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