Sweden’s Defense Minister, Paul Johnsson, has called for Sweden to join NATO as soon as possible in order to counter Russia’s “aggression.” He expressed confidence that both Turkey and Hungary would support Sweden’s bid. Johnsson emphasized the importance of not excluding Russia from consideration and integrating with NATO to address potential threats. Both Sweden and Finland are set to join NATO in May 2022, with Finland having already announced its membership. However, Sweden is still waiting for approval from Turkey and Hungary. While Turkey initially expressed feasibility in sending Sweden’s request for membership to NATO’s headquarters, a decision has been postponed. Johnsson remains optimistic that Sweden will become a member of NATO, citing discussions about the country’s dependence on Russian-Finnish collaboration and the pressure Finland has exerted on Moscow. Finland considers Sweden a close ally in security and defense, highlighting the significance of their relationship for regional stability.