NATO

Sweden on Thursday formally joined NATO as the 32nd member of the transatlantic military alliance, ending decades of post-World War II neutrality as concerns about Russian aggression in Europe have spiked following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced today that Sweden has officially become the 32nd member of the Alliance. "It's official - Sweden is now the 32nd member of NATO, taking its rightful place at our table," Stoltenberg wrote on the X social network.
He added that Sweden's accession "makes NATO stronger, and Sweden safer and the whole Alliance more secure."

BRATISLAVA - Slovak PM Robert Fico said on Thursday the Western strategy in Ukraine was not working and should be changed.

Sweden plans to send its units, helicopters and fighter planes. That country is also ready for official NATO accession, probably in a few days, after it received the final and crucial confirmation of the other members last week.

As Sweden edges toward formal NATO membership, the nation's involvement in the alliance's extensive military maneuvers underscores its evolving defense ties. Joined by Finland, the region embarks on the "Nordic Response 2024" exercises, marking a significant step towards bolstering collective security in Northern Europe.

NATO member Albania on Monday inaugurated a refurbished Soviet-era air base, the alliance's first in the Western Balkan region.

The air base is named after the small town of Kucova, 85 kilometers (52 miles) south of the capital Tirana.

Officials said the new air base will serve as a modern hub of operations, for training and hosting an array of fighter jets.

NATO member Albania, which has no fighter jets of its own, opened a rebuilt Soviet-era air base to serve NATO aircraft on Monday amid an increased threat from Russia, Prime Minister Edi Rama said.

Approximately 20,000 military personnel from ten NATO nations are currently preparing for an exercise today aimed at enhancing the alliance's readiness to counter potential Russian aggression, as reported by DPA.

As French President Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of sending ground troops to Ukraine reverberates across the international stage, leaders from various countries have offered their reactions, painting a complex picture of diplomatic tensions and strategic considerations.

Dr. Neil Melvin, the director of international security at Britain's Royal Joint Services Institute, has described Sweden's decision to join NATO as a "dramatic and historic change" with significant implications for Baltic security dynamics.