NATO Summit brings attention to Chicago

The world focused on Chicago in May when the city hosted the largest NATO meeting in history. 

  • The world focused on Chicago in May when the city hosted the largest NATO meeting in history, with representatives from approximately 60 nations and organizations.
    Sweden, a non-member of NATO, was represented by Minister of Defense Karin Enström, Minister of Foreign Relations Carl Bildt and Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, who assembled with leaders from other countries to discuss the end of the war and progressive withdrawal from Afghanistan, future investments in NATO and the widespread challenges in the 21st century.
    Sweden has contributed to several international peacekeeping operations under NATO without being an official member. Sweden has historically strived to be neutral but after supporting NATO with aircraft in Libya and soldiers in northern Afghanistan, neutrality can be questioned and discussed.
    Several thousand protesters marched in downtown Chicago to express opposition to NATO's aggressive wars in one of the largest demonstrations the city experienced in years.

  • Text & Photography: Erik Kinnhammar