China News Service, May 17. According to Swedish SVT TV, on the 17th local time, Swedish Foreign Minister Linde officially signed Sweden's application for joining NATO.
Linde said that Sweden will submit an application for membership with Finland, and it is expected that Sweden will take up to a year to become a NATO member.
Previously, the Swedish government officially decided on the 16th that it would apply for NATO membership, and Finland confirmed on the 15th that it would apply for NATO membership.
According to a report by the Russian Satellite Network on the 17th, the Finnish parliament has ended a 14-hour debate on the issue of joining NATO. It is expected that the parliamentary foreign affairs committee will formulate a response to the government report on the 17th local time.
There will be new discussions thereafter and approval by the president after the government makes a formal proposal.