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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Jon Henley Europe correspondent

Why are Sweden and Finland not yet in Nato and does the alliance want them?

Swedish and Finnish military vehicles
Swedish and Finnish military vehicles during an exercise involving Nato member countries plus Sweden and Finland, in Evenes, Norway, in March. Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters

Finland and Sweden could apply for membership of the 30-nation Nato alliance within days, ending decades of military non-alignment in a historic shift triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Here is a brief look at the background and implications of their decisions.

What is Nato?

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