Sweden’s centre-left prime minister has ruled out applying to join Nato, saying that membership would destabilise the security of northern Europe.

After a surge in Swedish support for joining the military alliance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, opposition centre-right party leaders have again urged the government to start a discussion on possible Nato membership. But Social Democrat prime minister Magdalena Andersson turned down the requests for talks.

“If Sweden were to choose to submit its membership application in the current situation, it would further destabilise the security of this particular region of Europe and increase tensions in Europe, and Sweden would contribute to further destabilising the situation,” she said on Tuesday.