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ABC News
ABC News
National

Could Finland and Sweden's bid to join NATO spell the end of 'neutral' European countries?

NATO European Union Finland Sweden Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Vladimir Putin Europe Ukraine NAC Russia
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted Finland and Sweden to apply for membership of NATO.  (AP: Heikki Saukkomaa/Lehtikuva)

Finland and Sweden have announced they intend to join the NATO military alliance, a major shift away from their policy of military non-alignment. 

Security concerns over Russia's invasion of Ukraine have changed the calculus for Finland and Sweden, and caused other traditionally "neutral" countries to rethink what that term really means for them.

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