Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson
Sweden supports a path from Ukraine to NATO, says the country’s defense minister, who believes that Ukraine’s war-tempered army and the country’s fast-growing defense industry would strengthen the Alliance. And “there shouldn’t be anyone with veto power against it.”
The Swedish Defense Minister, Paul Jonsonstated this Saturday that Ukraine must have a route to joining NATOarguing that the Ukrainian armed forces, already tested in combatand the country’s rapidly expanding defense industry would strengthen the Alliancedespite opposition from some Member States.
Speaking to the GLOBSEC Forum in Prague, Jonson said that Sweden supports eventual accession from Ukraine both NATO and the European Unionadding that Kyiv should receive a long-term Euro-Atlantic perspective.
“All European countries must have the right to join NATO as such, when they meet the requirements,” said Jonson, invoking NATO’s open door policy. “There should be no one with veto power against that. That is our position.”
The issue of Ukraine’s future in NATO continues to be one of the most sensitive within the Alliance. Several allies argue that the door must remain open to Kiev, while others fear that moving too quickly could worsen tensions with Russia or drag an ongoing war into NATO.
Jonson recognized that there is no consensus among allies. “I recognize that there are allies who are opposed,” he said. “But if you ask me what our position is, that is our position”.
The Swedish minister sees Ukraine as a future asset for European security. Pointed to size of the Ukrainian armed forces, innovation developed in wartime and country’s defense industrial capacity as reasons to bring Ukraine closer to NATO.
“Where else in Europe can we find 110 brigades?” asked Jonson. “Where else in Europe can we find what Ukraine demonstrated? Where else can we also find this industrial capacity?”
Jonson also argued that the Ukrainian defense market has become one of the most efficient in Europe, claiming that Kiev deregulated, privatized and opened the sector to competition after the large-scale invasion launched by Russia — allowing increase weapons production at a remarkable speed.
