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Gone quiet · last update Mar 11, 2024 / NATO

Finland and Sweden's bids to join NATO

Overview · reviewed October 23, 2026

Finland and Sweden applied to join after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Finland became a member in April 2023, followed by Sweden in March 2024.[1][2][3] Their applications faced Russian warnings and objections from Turkey before both countries entered the alliance.[4][5]

Read the timeline

Follow this story to see new developments when you return.

Their applications faced Russian warnings and objections from Turkey before both countries entered the alliance.[4][5]

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · monthly average of weekly shares (UTC)

Feb 2022: average weekly share 7% (left 2%, center 3%, right 2%), from 2 of 2 weeksMar 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2022: average weekly share 4% (left 1%, center 1%, right 2%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2022: average weekly share 15% (left 5%, center 7%, right 4%), from 5 of 5 weeksJun 2022: average weekly share 4% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2022: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2023: average weekly share under 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2023: average weekly share 7% (left 3%, center 3%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJun 2023: average weekly share under 1% (left 0%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2023: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 2%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2023: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2024: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksMay 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 2 of 2 weeks, so far

LeftCenterRight

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. Over more than two years each bar is a month: the average of that month's weekly shares, so the shape stays readable. The weekly table below keeps every week. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 7 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (15 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Mar 11, 202436514 of 2436%
Dec 11, 20231427 of 2253%
Jul 10, 202359216 of 2437%
Jul 3, 2023712221 of 2459%
Jun 26, 20230325 of 2792%
Apr 3, 202327341576 of 26029%
Mar 27, 20231102 of 2781%
Aug 8, 202257416 of 1948%
Jun 27, 2022719632 of 19117%
May 16, 202223291769 of 19036%
May 9, 202223371777 of 19340%
Apr 11, 2022691025 of 19213%
Apr 4, 20221124 of 1912%
Feb 28, 202287621 of 19711%
Feb 21, 20220325 of 2003%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Mar 10, 2024 · first reported · Headline from Voice of America

    Sweden’s Flag Raised at NATO

Background

In February 2022, Russia warned Finland and Sweden of "military and political consequences" if they sought NATO membership. Finland's prime minister said Russia's invasion of Ukraine could increase public interest in joining.[4] By April, a Finnish minister described membership as highly likely, and Finland's government said it would decide within weeks.[6]

Read the full background (3 more paragraphs)

Finland's leaders announced in May that the country would apply. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that membership would harm relations,[7] and Russia's energy company stopped electricity exports to Finland, citing payment problems caused by sanctions.[8] Sweden also decided to apply, departing from its longstanding policy of military nonalignment.[1] As NATO foreign ministers met in Berlin that month, the alliance's secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, said Ukraine could win the war, and reporting described Russia as facing the prospect of a bigger NATO.[9][10]

Turkey objected to the bids. US President Joe Biden supported both applications as he hosted the countries' leaders in May,[5][11] and NATO formally invited Finland and Sweden to join at the end of June.[12] Biden signed the US ratification of their membership in August 2022.[13]

Finland joined NATO in April 2023.[2] Putin subsequently warned of "problems" with Finland and accused the West of drawing it into the alliance.[14] Sweden joined in March 2024; its flag was subsequently raised at NATO headquarters.[3]

Supporting stories (14)
  1. Finland will seek to join NATO, leaders say, ditching decades of neutrality despite Russia's threats of retaliation
  2. Finland joins NATO in major blow to Russia over Ukraine war
  3. Sweden’s flag raised at NATO headquarters
  4. Russia issues ominous warning to Finland, Sweden should they join NATO
  5. Rebutting Turkey, Biden lauds NATO bids of Sweden, Finland
  6. Finland Joining NATO ‘Highly Likely’ And Hopefully ‘Swift,’ Finnish Minister Says
  7. Putin warns Finland NATO membership would harm relations
  8. Putin Warns Finland Over Joining NATO As Russia Cuts Off Electricity
  9. Small wins buoy Ukraine; West says Russians losing momentum
  10. Russia runs into more obstacles in Ukraine, on global front
  11. Biden to host leaders of Sweden, Finland amid NATO bids
  12. NATO formally invites Finland and Sweden to join alliance
  13. Biden signs ratification of Finland, Sweden NATO bids
  14. Putin warns of ‘problems’ with neighboring Finland after West ‘dragged it into NATO’

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 19 recorded updates

March 2024

  1. Sweden’s flag raised at NATO headquartersHeadline from The Columbian · 17 outlets

December 2023

  1. Putin warns of ‘problems’ with neighboring Finland after West ‘dragged it into NATO’Headline from CNN · 7 outlets

July 2023

  1. Biden Is Showcasing New NATO Member Finland as He Closes Out His Europe TripHeadline from Military.com · 17 outlets

June 2023

  1. Biden is hosting Sweden's prime minister at the White House in a show of support for its NATO bidHeadline from WMUR · 22 outlets

March 2023

  1. Finland joins NATO in major blow to Russia over Ukraine warHeadline from Minneapolis Star Tribune · 79 outlets

August 2022

  1. Biden signs ratification of Finland, Sweden NATO bidsHeadline from Digital Journal · 16 outlets

June 2022

  1. NATO formally invites Finland and Sweden to join allianceHeadline from ABC 17 Mid-Missouri · 33 outlets
  2. Erdogan to meet Biden at NATO summit for crucial talks on Russian invasionHeadline from The Times of Israel · 6 outlets

May 2022

  1. Rebutting Turkey, Biden lauds NATO bids of Sweden, FinlandHeadline from St. Louis Post-Dispatch · 41 outlets
  2. Biden to host leaders of Sweden, Finland amid NATO bidsHeadline from MyNorthwest · 7 outlets
  3. Small wins buoy Ukraine; West says Russians losing momentumHeadline from WDIO Duluth · 16 outlets
  4. Russia runs into more obstacles in Ukraine, on global frontHeadline from Sioux City Journal · 9 outlets
  5. Finland will seek to join NATO, leaders say, ditching decades of neutrality despite Russia's threats of retaliationHeadline from KTVZ Bend · 63 outlets
  6. Finland, Sweden apply to join NATO amid Russia's war on UkraineHeadline from Fox10 Phoenix · 44 outlets
  7. Putin warns Finland NATO membership would harm relationsHeadline from St. Louis Post-Dispatch · 68 outlets
  8. Putin Warns Finland Over Joining NATO As Russia Cuts Off ElectricityHeadline from Forbes · 8 outlets

April 2022

  1. Finland Joining NATO ‘Highly Likely’ And Hopefully ‘Swift,’ Finnish Minister SaysHeadline from Forbes · 32 outlets

March 2022

  1. Neutral Finland, Sweden warm to idea of NATO membershipHeadline from Minneapolis Star Tribune · 21 outlets

February 2022

  1. Russia issues ominous warning to Finland, Sweden should they join NATOHeadline from Newsweek · 5 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →