[HIGHLIGHTS] In Washington, Sweden officially becomes the 32nd member of NATO

Sweden officially becomes the 32nd member of NATO on Thursday March 7. “This is a historic day.

Sweden will now take its rightful place at the NATO table,” declared its Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg. Russia promised last week to take "countermeasures" in reaction to Stockholm's accession, which will depend "on the conditions and extent of Sweden's integration into NATO" Finland had obtained its accession to the Alliance last April, but Sweden's accessions process was punctuated by negotiations with Turkey.