Sweden to apply to join NATO, joining Finland in ending neutral stance

Finland and Sweden have been weighing applications to join NATO since the war in Ukraine began.

LONDON and HELSINKI -- Sweden will apply to formally join NATO, following in the footsteps of neighboring Finland, the country's prime minister said, ending long-held positions of neutrality in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"The best for our country's security is that Sweden applies for membership in NATO and that we do it now together with Finland," Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said on Monday. "And following today's debate in Parliament, the government is ready to make a decision about an application. That will be the starting point for a process that includes ratification in all the NATO member's parliaments and after that, the government will return to Parliament with a proposal for ratification for Swedish membership of NATO."

"As nonaligned countries, Sweden and Finland have been contributing to stability in our region, but that changed when Russia invaded Ukraine," she added.

President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin of Finland announced their intention to apply for NATO membership on Sunday, with the country's Parliament expected to endorse the proposal as a formality.