Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Netanyahu: If Lebanese Army takes steps to disarm Hezbollah, Israel will engage in reciprocal measures, including phased reduction of Israeli military presence in Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Photojournalist Houssam Al-Masri martyred, reporters Hatem Omar, Mohammad Ashraf Salameh injured in Israeli strike on Nasser Medical Complex.
Israeli media: Intense US efforts are being made to resolve differences, such as the issue of the Israeli presence on Mount Hermon and in southern Syria
Israeli media: The security agreement means amending the disengagement agreement, which will also address the Druze issue
Israeli media: Attempts to reach a security agreement between 'Israel' and Syria were among the topics discussed at the Paris meeting
Israeli media: Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif rejected a US proposal to join the recent tripartite meeting between Tom Barrack, al-Shaibani, and Dermer
Saba News Agency: Two martyred, five injured in a preliminary toll of the Israeli aggression on the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street in Sanaa
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: We observed a state of confusion among the enemy's aircraft squadron after Yemeni air defenses intercepted the attack
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: The Yemeni air defense forces succeeded in neutralizing a squadron of enemy aircraft and prevented airstrikes on some governorates
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: Our air defenses and missile forces forced a formation of enemy aircraft to flee the airspace

Majority of Swedes favor joining NATO: Poll

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 21 Apr 2022 15:22
3 Min Read

Sweden has been considering joining NATO for some time against Russia's warnings.

  • x
  • Poll: Majority of Swedes favor NATO membership
    Swedish PM Magdala Andersson

A recent survey found that a majority of Swedes want to join NATO, as Sweden's ruling party prepares to discuss whether to relinquish the country's military non-alignment.

According to the Novus poll, 51% of Swedes support joining the military alliance, the first time that a majority has supported the topic. Last week, a similar poll was conducted and recorded a 45% approval rate.

Russia's military operation in Ukraine has fueled a rise in public support for NATO membership.

Other institutes' surveys have previously indicated a majority in favor of joining, but Novus believes public opinion is now being swayed by the NATO discussion taking place in neighboring Finland, where MPs are debating the topic following the publishing of a security policy white paper last week.

Many observers believe Finland will eventually make a candidacy in time for the NATO meeting in June.

Read more: Finland, Sweden to join NATO by summer: The Times

Last week, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin paid a visit to her Swedish colleague Magdalena Andersson, signaling that the two neighboring nations, both NATO allies but nominally "non-aligned", are marching in lockstep.

Novus chief executive Torbjorn Sjostrom stated that the "Swedish opinion in favor of NATO is increasing because they believe it will be done together with Finland and (people) are then more positive to a Swedish membership."

64% of Swedes questioned said they were in favor of joining if they would be followed by Finland.

Related News

Europe's Trump concessions risk democracy, trade losses: FT op-ed

Declassified papers reveal Clinton floated Russian NATO membership

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde said on Thursday that she wants to expedite the completion of the parliament's security policy study, which is intended to direct MPs' deliberations.

Linde told Swedish radio station Sveriges Radio that she wants it finished by May 13, rather than May 31, as was previously intended.

Linde stated that "Finland has already published its analysis and there is strong pressure on us to complete our analysis."

Sweden's ruling Social Democrats said last week that an internal discussion on whether Sweden should seek membership will begin.

According to Aftonbladet, sources inside the Social Democrats stated a "marathon meeting" on NATO was planned for Friday, the party's "first major discussion" on the subject.

Finland, Sweden to participate in NATO drills in Arctic, Russia sees risks

Russia is worried about increased NATO activity in the Arctic and sees risks of "unintended incidents" happening in the region, according to TASS, which cited Russian ambassador-at-large Nikolai Korchunov. 

Finland and Sweden, which are considering joining the NATO alliance led by Washington, have conducted joint NATO military drills in March.

Earlier, Russia's Foreign Ministry said the choice of joining NATO was up to Finland and Sweden.

"But they should understand the consequences of such a step for our bilateral relations and for the architecture of European security as a whole," Spokesperson Maria Zakharova pointed out in a statement.

The Finnish government hopes to build a parliamentary consensus on the issue over the coming weeks, with MPs due to hear from security experts.

Many analysts predict Finland could submit a bid in time for a NATO summit in June. Any membership bid must be accepted by all 30 NATO states, a process that could take four months to a year.

  • Nato
  • Finland
  • Russia
  • Sweden

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)

Hamas, other factions accept Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 18 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS