NATO Enlargement to Sweden and Finland

Sweden joined NATO on March 7, 2024, enlarging the alliance to 32 members. Amid heightened security concerns about Russia after its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, both Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO in May 2022 with the intention to accede to the alliance together.

Finland joined on April 4, 2023, but Sweden’s accession was delayed by issues raised by Turkey (Türkiye) and Hungary. The Biden Administration and majorities in the House and Senate expressed support for NATO enlargement to both Finland and Sweden, viewing the addition of these two mature democracies with capable militaries as enhancing Euro-Atlantic security and advancing U.S. interests.