Sweden formally joins NATO military alliance, ending centuries of neutrality

Sweden formally joins NATO military alliance, ending centuries of neutrality, per CNBC.

Earlier on Thursday, the Swedish government announced that it would hold an extraordinary meeting to vote on joining NATO, following approval from all current members for its accession to the military alliance.

Later in the day, NATO confirmed the news in a statement, with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stating that Sweden was "taking its rightful place at our table."

"Sweden's accession makes NATO stronger, Sweden safer, and the whole Alliance more secure. I look forward to raising their flag at NATO HQ on Monday," he added.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to submit the final documents. The country submitted its application to join NATO in May 2022, shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine began. This marked a significant departure from Sweden's longstanding policy of military nonalignment, dating back to the Napoleonic wars.

Finland officially joined NATO last April, also in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, authorities in both Helsinki and Stockholm concluded that their nations were no longer secure on their own and applied to join the alliance a few months later.

NATO members Hungary and Turkey initially delayed Sweden's accession process, only voting in favor of it this year. Approval from all existing members is required for a new country to join the alliance, which is based on the principle that an attack on one member is an attack on all.