Finland, Sweden officially apply to join NATO

“I warmly welcome your request to join NATO of Finland and Sweden. You are our closest partners,” Stoltenberg told reporters after receiving an application to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) from the ambassadors of the two Nordic countries.

Finland and Sweden’s applications to join NATO must be considered by the 30 member states. Finland and Sweden’s application for membership by NATO countries is expected to take about two weeks. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed his disapproval for Finland and Sweden to join.

If Turkey’s objection resolved and accession negotiations went well as expected Finland and Sweden could become NATO members within a few months.

This process usually takes between eight and 12 months, but NATO wants to quickly ratify the two Nordic countries’ accession to the bloc. For example, Canada is expected to ratify the accession protocol for the Nordic countries in just a few days.

Public opinion in Finland and Sweden has turned in favor of NATO membership after Russia launched the operation in Ukraine on February 24.

Finland and Sweden are NATO’s closest partners. These countries have well-funded armed forces that contribute to the alliance’s military operations and air control.

Any obstacles Finland and Sweden face in joining NATO will be of a technical, or possibly political, nature.