HELSINKI\u00a0\u2014\u00a0A landmark poll in Sweden reveals a massive shift in public opinion that favors the non-aligned Nordic state joining NATO. Conducted by research organization TNS Sifo (part of the WPP Group), the poll shows 41 percent support for Sweden becoming a full NATO member,\u00a039 percent remain opposed and 20 percent are undecided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“What is most surprising is the rapid change in opinion. Since the annexation of Crimea and crisis in Ukraine, we have seen a steady trend where opposition to NATO membership is in decline,” said political analyst Ulf Bjereld.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new figures represent a sharp 10 percent increase in pro-NATO support compared with a similar poll carried out in May. Swedish public support for joining NATO hovered at a lowly 17 percent in 2012. By year-end 2013 it was 29 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
The poll comes in the wake of an historic reversal in policy by the former NATO-skeptic opposition Center party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once staunchly anti-NATO membership, the Center is now advocating that Sweden join the Western alliance as part of a joint initiative with fellow non-aligned Nordic state Finland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This simultaneous action, the Center contends, would help secure the long-term defense capabilities and national security interests of both nations in an increasingly unpredictable and potentially volatile region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Three other opposition groups, the Liberals, Moderates and Christian Democrats, who together with the Center belong to the so-called alliance parties, also favor NATO\u00a0membership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This powerful political bloc is expected to pressure the ruling Social Democratic-Green government to test the nation’s mood on NATO by convening a referendum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We are seeing a clear trend, and in particular alliance voters are moving toward\u00a0a pro NATO\u00a0membership position,” said Toivo Sj\u00f6r\u00e9n, a public opinion analyst at TNS Sifo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In contrast to rising pro-NATO support by alliance voters, supporters of the ruling Social Democrats and Green parties\u00a0remain largely opposed to membership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Around 52 percent of Social Democrat voters are against joining NATO while 30 percent support membership. Some 61 percent of Green voters oppose NATO\u00a0membership while 27 percent favor joining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an interesting twist, the poll shows that while the leadership of the nationalist Sweden Democrats are opposed to NATO membership, 54 percent of the opposition party’s supporters favor joining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The poll results emerged several days after a delayed action by Sweden’s Foreign Minister Margot Wallstr\u00f6m to call in Russia’s ambassador to Sweden, Viktor Tatarintsev, to explain controversial comments he made in July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tatarintsev warned that Russia’s friendly relationship with Sweden would change markedly if the non-aligned state were to join NATO. Sweden, said Tatarintsev, would be subjected to “countermeasures” and would also run the risk of being targeted militarily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n