Finland and Sweden Join NATO
Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine ended decades of Finnish and Swedish military non-alignment. Finland applied to join NATO in May 2022 and became the 31st member on April 4, 2023 — adding 1,300 km to NATO's border with Russia. Sweden joined as the 32nd member on March 7, 2024 after overcoming objections from Turkey and Hungary. The enlargement fundamentally altered the Baltic security landscape, encircling Russia in the north, and represented the most significant expansion of the alliance since the early 2000s.
- Year: 2023 CE
- Category: Diplomatic
