Finland, Sweden both poised to join NATO

Photo by: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Photo by: North Atlantic Treaty Organization

(Brussels) -- Finland and Sweden could apply for NATO membership this month, a huge change for two countries with a history of wartime neutrality.

The two nations have been turning toward the defensive alliance rapidly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in late February. In Finland alone, public support for joining NATO jumped from around 25 percent to 76 percent since the invasion.

Membership in NATO, originally formed to counter the Soviet Union, would provide security guarantees from nuclear-powered allies.