The Latest Breaking News from Sweden

Finland's membership into the world's largest military alliance has dealt a major blow to Vladimir Putin, with NATO's border with Russia expanding by 1,340km.

Finland's white flag emblazoned with a blue cross was hoisted at NATO headquarters Tuesday as the Nordic country joined the transatlantic alliance, a move ending decades of neutrality and spurred by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Rishi Sunak and James Cleverly said Sweden should also now be admitted to the defence alliance.

Sweden's path to NATO membership remains blocked by Turkey and Hungary as neighbour Finland officially joined the 30-member alliance on Tuesday after its application was ratified in record time.

In 1948, the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance was signed between the Soviet Union and Finland, providing a key basis for relations between the two states that was to last throughout the cold war. With memories of the 1939 “winter war” between the two still acute, the agreement…

Finland becomes the 31st member of the world’s largest military alliance as Sweden waits to join.

It's a blow to Putin who, in launching the Russian invasion of Ukraine, vowed to block the alliance's eastward expansion.

The move more than doubles Nato’s border with Russia in a blow to Vladimir Putin

James Cleverly welcomed Helsinki's entry into the 74-year-old, 30-member organsation - and vowed to press ahead with allowing Sweden into the nuclear-armed coalition