Finland, Sweden Formally Submit Application To Join NATO Membership

Finland and Sweden formally applied to join the Nato alliance on Wednesday (May 18) at allied headquarters, a historic moment for two countries that held fast to military nonalignment until Russia’s invasion of Ukraine upended their thinking about security.

“I warmly welcome the requests by Finland and Sweden to join NATO. You are our closest partners,” Stoltenberg told reporters after a receiving their application letters from the two Nordic countries’ ambassadors.