For the primary time in historical past, thirty-two NATO Allies gathered for a gathering of the North Atlantic Council on Tuesday (12 March 2024), with Sweden’s Ambassador Axel Wernhoff taking his alphabetical place across the desk.
Sweden formally joined the Alliance on 7 March, and its accession was marked with a flag-raising ceremony at NATO Headquarters on 11 March. Talking on the flag-raising, Secretary Normal Jens Stoltenberg underlined that “Sweden’s membership makes NATO stronger, Sweden safer, and all of us safer”. He added: “Sweden’s accession reveals once more that NATO’s door stays open. Nobody can shut it.”
Deputy Secretary Normal Mircea Geoană chaired Tuesday’s assembly of the Council, which was centered on NATO-EU cooperation, and featured the participation of European Exterior Motion Service Secretary Normal Stefano Sannino, in addition to Deputy Secretary Normal for Peace, Safety and Defence Charles Fries. Allies had the chance to change views on the European Union’s Strategic Compass, in addition to help for Ukraine, the Western Balkans, and the scenario within the Center East and North Africa. Allies underscored that the European Union stays a singular and important associate for NATO, and welcomed work to additional strengthen the partnership in a spirit of transparency and complementarity.