Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 not only brought war to Europe once again but saw Sweden and Finland formally apply for NATO membership, a decided shift away from the long-standing policies of neutrality cherished by several European countries.
When Sweden and Finland submitted their official requests to join NATO on May 18, 2022, it was a historic departure from their policies of neutrality and a clear sign that the invasion of Ukraine was redrawing Europe's security framework.
