“Nice day”
Letters inviting Finland and Sweden to join NATO were formally presented to Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at NATO headquarters in Brussels by ambassadors Axel Wernhoff of Sweden and Klaus Korhonen of Finland.
Stoltenberg welcomed the moment as a turning point for regional security. He noted that both Nordic states had pursued a thorough democratic process before applying to join the alliance and confirmed that Finland and Sweden had chosen their respective paths freely in alignment with those processes.
The Secretary General emphasized that NATO would warmly receive the two requests and described Finland and Sweden as among the alliance’s closest partners in the political and military sphere.
Stoltenberg stated that the move would strengthen shared security and marked a historic step. He added that Allies would now consider the next steps toward formal membership, while stressing the importance of honoring the security interests of every ally and resolving outstanding concerns promptly. He also noted that many allied statements in recent days underscored a commitment to safeguarding the security of Finland and Sweden.
NATO already maintains vigilance in the Baltic Sea region, and both NATO and allied forces will adapt as needed. There is broad consensus among Allies on the value of expanding NATO, and the alliance’s leadership stressed the need to stand united in this effort.
Sweden and Finland’s path to NATO
In response to Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, Finland and Sweden announced a move away from neutrality and toward full membership in the North Atlantic Alliance. National institutions in both countries began the formal procedures required for accession.
On May 15, the Swedish Social Democratic Party formally approved its decision to pursue NATO membership, explaining that security considerations motivated the choice. If approved, Sweden would oppose the deployment of nuclear weapons and NATO bases on its soil. On the same day, Finland officially joined the process to seek NATO membership.
By May 16, however, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan indicated that Turkey would not immediately approve the two Nordic applications, signaling ongoing concerns at Ankara about security issues and regional terrorism considerations.
President Erdogan warned that accepting membership could complicate Turkey’s security posture and cautioned against underestimating the risks. He also pointed to alleged terrorist links in some areas as a reason for skepticism, stating that trust would be a major hurdle for swift approval.
Despite these objections, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde signed the NATO application on May 17, with Sweden’s representation confirming the move. Finland followed suit later that day after its parliament unanimously supported the application and a presidential signature was received.
The Swedish prime minister had previously announced joint plans for a May 18 submission, and she indicated that Stockholm would actively engage with Ankara to bridge gaps during the Nordic applicants’ path into the alliance. Russia reacted negatively to the potential expansion, with President Vladimir Putin publicly calling the enlargement artificial and arguing that NATO has extended beyond its traditional geographic scope in a bid to influence other regions. A Russian deputy foreign minister echoed concerns that the move would not enhance regional security and warned of long-term consequences.