A video is shared as part of the article depicting a gathering where military personnel, dressed in uniforms, carry rainbow flags, the symbol of the LGBT community.
The video shared in the post is not recent; it was not recorded after Sweden’s entry into the NATO Alliance, but rather before that. Therefore, Sweden’s stance on supporting freedom of choice, protecting all individuals, and combating discrimination is not tied to its NATO membership, which the country sought for enhanced security reasons.
We are fact-checking a claim made by the cultural community stating the following:
“After joining NATO, the Swedish Army…”
A video is shared as part of the article depicting a gathering where military personnel, dressed in uniforms, carry rainbow flags, the symbol of the LGBT community.
The film is not new, and it was not recorded afterward, as according to Agence France-Presse records, particularly from the Middle East Area, where the video even appeared with the message that it showed the Swedish Army after joining NATO.
Sweden’s entry into NATO occurred in 2024. The videos in the article we are fact-checking actually date back to and were recorded during the monthly march in support of the LGBT community, not long ago.
A large crowd of people in military uniforms march down the street while carrying rainbow flags.
On 26 February, the Hungarian Parliament approved Sweden’s membership in NATO, thereby removing the last obstacle to the Alliance’s enlargement after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Sweden is the second-third member of the Alliance, having announced its candidacy after Russia attacked Ukraine. Only six members of the Hungarian Parliament were against this motion, out of 188. The decision was later welcomed and hailed as a “historic day” in Sweden. As fact-checkers claim, the video dates back to August 2022, when the Swedish Army marched in solidarity with the LGBT community. The Swedish Army has not taken part in the annual march in support of the LGBT community before. There are older video clips, including one that features Michael Bydén, the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces, in action.
The way Sweden positions itself in relation to supporting freedom of choice, protecting all citizens, and fighting discrimination is not, in fact, linked to NATO membership, which the country pursued to achieve additional stability.
Based on all the above-noted facts, we assess the post fact-checked as partially untrue.
