In Sweden, misgivings over rushed debate to join NATO

Sweden is widely expected to apply for NATO membership after Russia's invasion of Ukraine sparked a surge in support, but many Swedes are uncomfortable with how quickly the decision-making process has gone.

The country is set to reverse a decades-old policy of non-alignment in the coming days, in lockstep with its neighbour and longtime security ally Finland which is due to officially announce its bid to join NATO on Sunday.  

But for some, it feels rushed. 

"I think everybody would have wanted more time for this because it's a huge issue," Stefan Lofven, Sweden's Social Democratic prime minister from 2014 to 2021, said.

"At the same time, we know that you don't always get the time that you would like to have." 

Part of the reluctance among some comes from the fact that neighbouring Finland has so quickly and overwhelmingly made up its mind in favour of joining the Western military alliance.

Finland, which shares a 1,300-kilometre border with Russia and is Sweden's closest defence cooperation partner, took a historic first step on Thursday when the president and prime minister came out in favour of joining NATO. 

"I also wish that Finland could have waited. It's not an ideal situation, in the middle of a blazing war", former foreign minister Margot Wallstrom, a longtime opponent of membership who has grudgingly opened up to the idea, said.