Swedish Ambassador to Tirana, Elsa Hastad, held a press conference on Tuesday regarding Sweden's NATO membership application. In her speech, she stressed that Stockholm's decision to join the Euro-Atlantic alliance comes as a result of security challenges created due to Russian aggression in Ukraine. 

The ambassador also drew attention to the security report that persuaded Swedish lawmakers to take such an initiative to join NATO: "The conclusion of this report is that Sweden's membership in NATO would play a preventive role in the conflict in Northern Europe”. 

She thanked Albania for the support given to its state in this process. 

"Yesterday I met with Prime Minister Rama and I was in contact with Foreign Minister Olta Xhaçka and both of them assured me of Albania's support to Sweden in this process and for that we are grateful.

This decision comes after a long and comprehensive process. The decision is supported by an overwhelming majority in the Swedish parliament. This decision has come in coordination with the Government of Finland. Let me explain some of the reasons that led to the decision. Security challenges in Europe have raised the question of how Sweden will be able to secure its protection. 

The Swedish government set up a working group to analyse the security environment. The analysis of this report with the decline of security after the occupation of Ukraine is supported by all political forces in parliament. 

The report concludes that Sweden's membership in NATO would play a deterrent role in the conflict in Northern Europe. This deterrent effect has overwhelming support from the Swedish parliament and the people. 

How will Sweden contribute to NATO? The Swedish Parliament decided to increase the budget for Defence to 2% of gross domestic product. Sweden will contribute with high technological competence and unique knowledge in difficult terrains such as alpine and underwater. We will be a reliable member on which other countries can rely," the Ambassador said.