NATO Formally Invites Sweden and Finland to Join Alliance

NATO heads of states and governments pose for a photo during a NATO summit in Madrid, on June 29, 2022. Susana Vera/Reuters

NATO’s leadership formally invited Sweden and Finland to become members of the military bloc on June 29 after Turkey’s president signaled that he wouldn’t block their bids.

“Today we have decided to invite Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO, and agreed to sign Accession Protocols,” NATO said in a declaration following meetings in Madrid. “The accession of Finland and Sweden will make them safer, NATO stronger, and the Euro-Atlantic area more secure.”