Sweden Officially Announces Bid for NATO Membership, Gets Backing From Top US Lawmaker

Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson announces the country will officially apply to join NATO, in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 16, 2022. Henrik Montgomery/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images

Sweden on May 16 officially announced that it will apply to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), quickly drawing support from a top U.S. lawmaker.

“The government has decided to inform NATO that Sweden wishes to become a member of the alliance,” Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson told reporters in Stockholm. “And very soon, Sweden’s NATO ambassador will inform NATO of this. After that, negotiations to join will begin.”