The Finnish government has officially announced its intention to join NATO, and Sweden’s ruling party followed shortly after in a twin development that paves the way for a possible joint application to the military alliance.

• Less than three months after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the announcements first by Finland and then Sweden were a stunning reversal of their traditional and long-standing policies of military non-alignment.
• “This is a historic day. A new era is opening,” Finnish President Sauli Niinisto told reporters at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Sanna Marin.
• The Finnish parliament is expected to endorse the decision in the coming days. A formal membership application will then be submitted to NATO headquarters in Brussels, most likely at some point next week.