Sweden has promised to deploy 600 soldiers in Latvia after joining NATO, Sigita Struberga, Secretary General of the Latvian Transatlantic Organization (LATO), told Latvian Radio in an interview.
She explained that Sweden’s accession to NATO is mostly of regional significance. “We can talk about NATO gaining additional depth in the context of the Baltic Sea,” Struberga said and explained that Sweden’s location, its forces around the Baltic Sea, is important.
Struberga also highlighted the Swedish air force, which is large and important for Latvia. Sweden has several submarines, the number of which will be increased. Sweden’s technological capabilities should also be discussed, the LATO Secretary General explained.
Sweden has also promised to deploy 600 troops in Latvia after NATO accession. Asked whether Sweden’s accession to NATO could escalate the situation, Struberga pointed out that it is not Sweden’s accession to NATO that escalates the situation, Russia itself has escalated it.
The Hungarian Parliament will vote on Sweden’s accession to NATO on Monday, a senior ruling Fidesz party official said.
For a country to be admitted to NATO, it needs the support of all existing members of the alliance. More than one and a half years after Sweden’s application to join the Alliance, Hungary is the only one of the 31 NATO Member States that has not ratified Sweden’s admission to the Alliance. Budapest is delaying ratification because, as the government explains, it is offended by the reproaches that Sweden has made of the rule of law in Hungary.
Source: BNS
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