NATO launches ratification process for Sweden, Finland membership

The process to ratify Sweden and Finland
as the newest members of NATO was formally launched on Tuesday, the military
alliance‍‍`s chief Jens Stoltenberg said, marking a historic step brought on by
Russia‍‍`s war in Ukraine.

"This is a good day for Finland and Sweden and a good day for NATO,"

Stoltenberg told reporters in a joint press statement with the Swedish and Finnish foreign ministers.

"With 32 nations around the table, we will be even stronger and our people will be even safer as we face the biggest security crisis in decades," he added.