Official: Sweden Joins NATO

With Sweden's official entry into NATO as its 32nd member state on Thursday, the western defense alliance will have almost completely encircled the Baltic Sea, which is home to one of Russia's fleets and a major oil trade route.

"The Baltic Sea turns into a NATO lake," stated Latvia's Foreign Minister Krišjānis Kariņš.

At a ceremony in Washington, Sweden formally joins the US-led alliance as the 32nd member. It carries with it the strategically important mid-Baltic island of Gotland, which is known as a "giant aircraft carrier" and makes it easier to defend the three small Baltic states.

The approval of Sweden's entry into NATO will contribute to the military might of the organization. NATO was joined by Finland on April 3, 2023, which resulted in Finland granting access to 15 military locations and installations throughout the Nordic nation for American forces. More than two centuries had passed since Sweden had avoided armed alliances and maintained its neutrality before Russia's invasion of Ukraine.