Sweden joins the largest military alliance in the world, NATO, becoming it’s 31st member.
The Nordic country’s policy of neutrality has been formally ended by Finland’s historic decision to join NATO.
The move was hailed as “a good day for Finland’s security, for Nordic security, and for NATO as a whole” on Tuesday by Jens Stoltenberg, the leader of the largest military alliance in history.
Finland applied for NATO membership a year ago in May, alongside Sweden, as fears of Russian aggression rose in northern Europe following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
But Sweden is still waiting to join the group, which now comprises 31 members.
Finland’s border with Russia stretches across 1,300km (800 miles).
Russia casts NATO enlargement as a threat to its security and has said it will respond to Finnish membership by boosting its military capacity in its western and northwestern regions.
More soon…