WEBVTT

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Of the shake hands .

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Good morning . The Secretary General

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and the Prime Minister will deliver

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short remarks and then we'll have time

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for a few questions . Secretary General

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Prime Minister there . It is an honor

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to welcome you today to the

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headquarters because this is truly an

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historic day . In a few moments , we

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will raise the Swedish flag here at the

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headquarters and all over the alliance

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and welcome your country as the 32nd

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member of

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Sweden has taken its rightful place

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at table under the shield of

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article five protection , the

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ultimate guarantee of freedom and

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security , all for one and one for all

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joining is good for Sweden ,

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good for the stability in the north and

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good for the security of our whole

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alliance . Sweden has

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long been a partner now ,

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you are an ally with all the benefits

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and responsibilities that this brings

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Sweden has cutting edge capabilities ,

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first class armed forces and defense

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industry and spends more than 2% of

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on the defense as we speak . Swedish

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troops are taking part in steadfast

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defender biggest military exercise

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since the Cold War . A demonstration of

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our unity and our resolve in

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response to Russia's war aggression

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against Ukraine has substantially

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increased our presence in the across

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the alliance . And Sweden's membership

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enhances this even further .

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When President Putin launched his full

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scale invasion two years ago , he

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wanted less and more control over his

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neighbors . He wanted to destroy

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Ukraine as a sovereign state , but he

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failed is bigger and stronger .

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Ukraine is closer to membership than

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ever before . And as the brave

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Ukrainian continues to fight for the

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freedom , we stand by their side .

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Allies continue to announce billions of

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dollars in new aid including Sweden's

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largest package yet covering ammunition ,

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air defenses and combat boats .

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Our support to Ukraine saves lives and

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it must continue . President Putin

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started this war and he could end it

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today . But Ukraine does not have this

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option . Surrender is not peace .

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We must continue to strengthen Ukraine

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to show President Putin that he will

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not get what he wants on the

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battlefield but must sit down and

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negotiate a solution where

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Ukraine is recognized and prevails as

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a sovereign independent nation . Prime

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Minister Chris , thank you for your

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personal leadership , broad support

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across the political spectrum in Sweden

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has made this day possible after more

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than 200 years of neutrality . You are

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joining the strongest and most

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successful military alliance in history .

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So welcome to . It's great to have you

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here . Thank you so much , Secretary

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General De Jans . Thanks for welcoming

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us here today . In many senses , Sweden

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is now part of we are a proud member

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together with our closest friends and

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partners . But first of all , Jans , I

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have to say , thank you so much for

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doing this journey with us and for us ,

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I have highly valued our close cooper

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operation . Actually from our very

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first meeting at fo as we say in

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Swedish , the security conference in

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Salem back in 2018 , over

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many meetings and phone calls leading

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us here today without your

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tireless support and personal

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commitment , we wouldn't be here . I

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realized that you would have made the

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same efforts for any qualified country

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applying for membership . But if you

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wanted us to feel that we were special

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to you , you really did succeed .

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Thanks also to all allies who have

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supported our accession and welcoming

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Sweden as a 32nd member of the alliance .

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We are humble , but we are also proud ,

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we know the expectations for Sweden are

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high , but we also have high

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expectations for ourselves . The

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Swedish flag will raise here at the

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headquarters today with a very strong

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support in our parliament and among our

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people , an important symbol for this

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is the fact that the Swedish delegation

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today consists not only by cabinet

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ministers and the commander in chief ,

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but also by her Royal Highness , the

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Swedish crown Princess Victoria and

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altogether six party leaders

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in a vibrant democracy . We argue and

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we debate but we unite in the long term

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protection of this precious democracy .

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Unity and solidarity will be Sweden's

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guiding lights . As a member , we will

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share burdens responsibilities and

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risks with our allies . The security

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situation in our region has not been

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this serious since the Second World War

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and Russia will stay a threat to Euro

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Atlantic security for a foreseeable

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future . It was in this light , Sweden

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applied to join the defense alliance to

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gain security but also to provide

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security . Our support to Ukraine

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is a fundamental part of that . Ukraine

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is fighting bravely for its own freedom ,

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but also defending European freedom

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in Sweden . We like to say and think we

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have unique military capabilities to

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contribute on land in the air and at

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sea . We are strengthening our defense

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and we are doubling the defense budget

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from now on Sweden meets the standard

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of 2% of to defense spending .

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We have been prepared honestly for this

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task for quite a while in reality , for

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the last 30 years . But more in detail ,

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the last two years , I am very pleased

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we have taken this final step today .

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Our country has long been a strong

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voice for international law , human

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rights , democracy and freedom at home

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and abroad . With the Swedish flag

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being raised here today , we are

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clearly saying that we stand shoulder

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to shoulder in defending democracy and

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freedom together . We have come

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home home to the alliance for peace and

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freedom to which so many democracies

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already belong home to where we also

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belong . Now we are entering a new era

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we will transform from following

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to being , I do look forward to

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this important task . Thank you so much .