14.96°C Vancouver

Mar 7, 2024 5:35 PM - The Associated Press

Sweden officially joins Nato, ending decades of neutrality

Share On
sweden-officially-joins-nato-ending-decades-of-neutrality
The ceremony was presided by Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson and secretary of state Antony Blinken, took place at the State Department.

Sweden on Thursday officially joined Nato, becoming the 32nd member of the transatlantic military alliance. This marks the end of decades of post-World War II neutrality for Sweden, as concerns about Russian aggression in Europe have grown following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The ceremony was presided by Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson and secretary of state Antony Blinken, took place at the State Department. Blinken described the occasion as a historic moment for Sweden, the alliance, and the transatlantic relationship. He emphasised that the Nato alliance is now stronger and larger than ever before.

Later in the day, Kristersson will visit the White House and attend US president Joe Biden's State of the Union address to Congress. The White House expressed that having Sweden as a Nato ally will enhance the safety of the United States and its allies.

In a statement, the White House highlighted the significance of Nato as the most powerful defensive alliance in history, crucial for the security of its citizens. Sweden and Finland, which joined Nato last year, abandoned their long-standing military neutrality as a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Latest news

BCSep 04, 2026

Sandy Dosanjh Withdraws as Surrey Council Candidate

The Conservative Party of Surrey has confirmed that Sandy Dosanjh has withdrawn her candidacy for the upcoming Surrey city council elections. The decision comes after her husband, Vancouver Police Constable Kalwinder Dosanjh, was named in fraud cases involving approximately $3 million. Sandy Dosanjh was recently introduced as a star candidate on the team led by Surrey mayoral candidate Honveer Singh Randhawa. However, she has now stepped aside, citing a family legal crisis. The Conservative Party of Surrey is campaigning on promises to lower taxes, improve public safety and put families first.
BCSep 04, 2026

B.C. Unemployment Rate Rises to 6.5% as Province Loses 5,500 Jobs in August

British Columbia’s unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points to 6.5% in August, while the province recorded a net loss of about 5,500 jobs, according to Statistics Canada. The province lost approximately 26,000 full-time jobs during the month. However, this was partly offset by an increase of about 20,600 part-time positions, bringing the overall net job loss to roughly 5,500. B.C. Conservatives blamed the job losses directly on the NDP government, saying the province continues to lose full-time jobs and accusing the government of failing to protect traditional industries such as fores
dr-gurpreet-kaur-sends-legal-notices-to-sukhpal-khaira-and-bikram-majithia
IndiaSep 04, 2026

Dr. Gurpreet Kaur Sends Legal Notices to Sukhpal Khaira and Bikram Majithia

Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Majithia have been served legal notices by Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, wife of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. In the notice, Dr. Gurpreet Kaur alleged that Khaira had published and circulated allegedly false, defamatory and objectionable content, including graphic posters and videos related to her, across social media platforms. Khaira has been given 24 hours to remove and withdraw the alleged content from his social media accounts. The notice also demands that he refrain from creating or circulating similar material i
vancouver-police-officer-kal-dosanjh-suspended-after-fraud-theft-charges
BCSep 04, 2026

Vancouver Police Officer Kal Dosanjh Suspended After Fraud, Theft Charges

Vancouver Police Officer Kal Dosanjh has been suspended with immediate effect after being charged with multiple counts of fraud and theft. Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai announced the suspension during a news conference on Friday. He said the 50-year-old officer has been charged with four counts each of fraud over $5,000 and theft over $5,000, along with one count of breach of trust. Rai said the investigation began in December 2023. So far, 19 victims have come forward, although police believe there may be additional victims. A 51-year-old Surrey man, Sarabjit Singh Gill, has also been char
fourth-accused-in-ryan-nagy-murder-case-sentenced-to-7-years-in-prison
BCSep 04, 2026

Fourth Accused in Ryan Nagy Murder Case Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison

A 23-year-old woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison for her role in the 2023 killing of 19-year-old Ryan Nagy during a home invasion in Burnaby, B.C. Rhoda Diabikulu, the fourth and final accused in the case, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in March. She was sentenced Tuesday and also received a lifetime ban on possessing firearms. The sentence takes into account the 18 months Diabikulu had already spent in custody, leaving her with about five and a half years to serve. The incident happened on June 29, 2023, when four people entered Nagy’s home on 17th Avenue in Burnaby around 7

Related News