The Swedish Social Democrats' party has announced that it is interested in joining the defense alliance, hours after Helsinki approved the move in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Associated Press reported.
Relying on an official statement.
This is the Nordic country's first step towards possible accession in what appears to be a general change in the continental security map in Europe after Russia started the war on 24 February last.
Earlier, meanwhile, Finnish President Sauli Ninisto officially announced his country's intention to join NATO, after announcing the move last week with Prime Minister Sana Marin. Will be forwarded to the Allies for approval.
"Today, the President of the Republic and the Government's Foreign Policy Committee have jointly agreed that Finland will apply for membership in NATO, after consultation with Parliament.
This is a historic day.
A new era has opened, "Ninisto declared.
"We hope that Parliament will approve the decision to apply for membership in NATO in the coming days.
It will be based on a strong mandate, "Marin added.
The move breaks a tradition of neutrality that the two countries have adopted since World War II.
The Kremlin promised with threats that they would respond to the unusual move and that Sweden and Finald would "become targets" if they did join the alliance.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday afternoon during a meeting of the organization's foreign ministers that "this is a historic opportunity that we need to seize."
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