NATO invites Finland, Sweden to join alliance, says Russia is a "direct threat"

NATO invited Sweden and Finland on Wednesday to officially join the military alliance in one of the biggest shifts in European security in decades after Russia's invasion of Ukraine pushed Helsinki and Stockholm to drop their classic stance of neutrality.

NATO's 30 allies took the decision at their summit in Madrid and also agreed to formally treat Russia as the "most significant and direct threat to the allies' security," said NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg at a news conference after the summit's first meeting.

"[This decision] demonstrated that President Putin did not succeed in closing NATO’s door," Jens Stoltenberg said after Turkey lifted a veto on Finland and Sweden joining.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/8955813/nato-defence-spending-canada-stoltenberg/
Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE: http://bit.ly/20fcXDc
Like Global News on Facebook HERE: http://bit.ly/255GMJQ
Follow Global News on Twitter HERE: http://bit.ly/1Toz8mt
Follow Global News on Instagram HERE: https://bit.ly/2QZaZIB
#GlobalNews