Peter Hultqvist Reflects on His Shift Toward NATO Membership

Peter Hultqvist, former Swedish Defense Minister, has openly expressed his regret over his previous commitment to never seek NATO membership for Sweden. This promise was made during the Social Democratic Party congress in November 2021, where he assured, "There will be no applications as long as we have a Social Democratic government". Yet, just six months later, he was part of the announcement alongside Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson regarding Sweden's NATO membership application in May 2022, a decision driven by significant geopolitical changes following Russia's aggression, particularly its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Hultqvist acknowledges personal influences on his revised stance, notably the impact of his mother's experiences as a war child from Finland. He revealed, "It was time to rip off the Band-Aid," indicating the urgency he felt regarding Sweden's security. In his new book, 'När allt förändras', he elaborates on his shift, noting that one’s political stance must adapt to changing realities, particularly in the face of a conflict likened to the largest in Europe since World War II. Hultqvist emphasizes the unpredictable nature of Russian aggression, stating, "The problem with Russia is that normal logic does not apply."

Furthermore, he reflected on Sweden's past naivety towards Russia, including a controversial invitation to a Russian military unit for exercises in 2006, equating such moves to a misunderstanding of Russia's true intentions. Hultqvist had even cautioned about Russian threats as early as 2008, underscoring the need for Sweden to evolve its defense strategies in light of recent events.