Finland and Sweden formally apply to join NATO

Finland and Sweden on Wednesday submitted their applications to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), after Russia's invasion of Ukraine caused a major shift in the countries' decades of military neutrality.

After receiving the requests from the Finnish and Swedish ambassadors at the Alliance headquarters, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said, "The two requests you submitted today are a historic step. Members of the alliance will now consider the next stages in your paths to join NATO."

The two efforts may represent the most important NATO expansion in decades, increasing the length of the alliance's border with Russia twice, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that the two countries' accession may cause a response from Moscow.

However, the two requests are facing resistance from NATO member Turkey, which has threatened to block them as it accuses the Scandinavian countries of providing safe haven to anti-Ankara groups.

"The security interests of all NATO members must be taken into account and we are determined to address all these issues and reach conclusions quickly," Stoltenberg said.

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