Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson on Thursday rejected calling a referendum, as suggested by the Socialist Left Party, on the country’s possible membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
It is a subject that I do not think is suitable for a popular consultation, Andersson said at a conference in this capital, adding that there are confidential issues that cannot be debated publicly.
For her part, Foreign Minister Ann Linde stressed that it is the government that sets security policies, with the support of Parliament, and therefore considered a referendum on the issue “inappropriate”.
The Socialist Left Party is the fifth parliamentary force in the country and is supported by the social democratic leadership in minority, opposed to joining NATO, in which this country and Finland maintain an associate status, but are not members.
On Thursday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg affirmed that he would welcome both nations “with open arms” if they present their candidacy.
NATO’s expansion and growth were foreseen and defined by Russia as a direct threat to its security.
Prensa Latina
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