18 May 2022 09:27

NATO secretary general accepts membership applications from Finland, Sweden

HELSINKI. May 18 (Interfax) - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg accepted membership applications from the ambassadors of Finland and Sweden in Brussels on Wednesday.

The Finnish parliament approved the accession to NATO by 188 votes to eight on Tuesday, and the Finnish government and President Sauli Niinisto backed the decision.

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde signed the membership application on Tuesday.

At first, the applications will be processed at the NATO Council, and membership agreements will need to be ratified by all 30 members of the alliance at the national level.