DARI NETRALITAS KE ALIANSI: KEPENTINGAN NASIONAL SWEDIA BERGABUNG DENGAN NATO TAHUN 2022–2024

Tri Nandasari Rahmawati Aulia Sutrisno Putri

doi:10.36859/dgsj.v2i2.5552

Tri Nandasari Rahmawati Aulia Sutrisno Putri Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36859/dgsj.v2i2.5552

Keywords: National Interest, NATO, Neorealism, European Security, Sweden.

Abstract

This article examines Sweden's national interests in applying for and realizing membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) during the period 2022–2024, a decision that marks a fundamental shift from the tradition of neutrality maintained for nearly two centuries. Using a qualitative approach based on literature review, this study employs the neorealist theoretical framework of Kenneth Waltz reinforced by the concepts of balance of power, national security, alliances, foreign policy, national interest, and international security. The results show that Sweden's decision to join NATO was driven by two main external factors: first, Russia's increasing aggressiveness disproportionate to its military capability; and second, the European Union's defense limitations dependent on United States military power through NATO. Sweden's manifested national interests encompass four dimensions: military interests in collective security guarantees and deterrence effects through NATO Article 5; security interests in sovereignty protection and defense interoperability; economic interests in integrating national defense industries into the alliance market; and political interests in enhancing negotiating position and diplomatic influence in the Euro-Atlantic security architecture. This study confirms that Sweden's foreign policy transformation is a rational response to structural changes in the international system.

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