New Delhi: Marking a new chapter in Europe’s security framework, Finland and Sweden formally applied to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Wednesday, May 18, at allied headquarters in Brussels.The development which has the potential to result in far-reaching consequences appears to have been necessitated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Neutral throughout the Cold War, Sweden’s and Finland‘s decision to join NATO is one of the most significant changes in Europe’s security architecture for decades, reflecting a sweeping shift in public opinion in the Nordic region since Russia’s February 24 invasion.“This is a historic moment, which we must seize,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at a short ceremony in which the Swedish and Finnish ambassadors to the alliance handed over their application letters, each in a white folder embossed with their national flag.“I warmly welcome requests by Finland and Sweden to join NATO. You are our closest partners, and your membership in NATO will increase our shared security,” Stoltenberg said. The alliance considers that the accession of Finland and Sweden would hugely strengthen it in the Baltic Sea.With the applications formally submitted, the Nordic countries and their many backers now face uncertain months where any resistance to their bids needs to be overcome, with all 30 of NATO’s members needing to approve the enlargement.Ratification by all allied parliaments could take up to a year, diplomats say.Turkey has surprised its allies in recent days by saying it had reservations about Finnish and Swedish membership, saying the two countries harbour individuals linked to groups it deems terrorists and hitting out at arms export embargoes imposed on it after its Syria incursion in 2019.Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that he thought the issues could be resolved.“We are determined to work through all issues and reach rapid conclusions,” Stoltenberg said, noting strong support from all other allies.Seeking to move the membership process along, Sweden’s defence minister has already headed to Washington and will be followed by Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto later this week.The countries hope speedy ratification by the United States, the alliance’s premier power, will help smooth their path to membership with the White House having said it is confident any obstacles can be overcome.The decision to seek a place under the NATO umbrella represents a setback for Moscow, with the war in Ukraine triggering the very kind of enlargement of the alliance on Russia’s borders that it took to arms to prevent.So far, Moscow’s response has been unexpectedly muted, having previously warned of steps of a “military-technical” nature and that it could deploy nuclear weapons in its European exclave of Kaliningrad were the countries to join.Also read: Debate: To Understand Why Russia Invaded Ukraine Is Not to Condone ItPresident Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Swedish and Finnish NATO membership posed no threat to Russia, but cautioned that Moscow would respond if the Western alliance boosted military infrastructure in the new Nordic members.Dramatic turn Finland and Sweden’s bid to join NATO marks a dramatic turn as to how the two Nordic countries perceive their security interests after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.Although both became members of the European Union in the aftermath of the end of Cold War in the 1990s, they have, however, practiced a policy of military nonalignment, by not becoming part of NATO.While Sweden has remained committed to nonalignment from the 19th century, Finland has followed the same trajectory from the time of the Cold War. Finland’s nonalignment so far has been guided by the fact that it shares a 1,300-kilometre-long border, as well have a common history, with powerful Russia. Any overtures to NATO military alliance would have antagonised Finland’s powerful neighbour, Russia.However, public opinion has changed drastically in Finland after Russia invaded Ukraine. The support for NATO membership in Finland generally hovered around 20%, which dramatically spiked to 53% in the immediate aftermath of the Ukraine war and to a whopping 76% this month, in May.In the case of Sweden too, the public perception in favour of NATO increased largely after the Ukraine war – a marked difference for the country given that it has always seen itself as a neutral country which it has preserved for centuries, by staying away from major conflicts in Europe, including two World Wars and the Cold War. Unlike Finland, it does not share a border with Russia, yet, as per April polls, 57% of Swedes are in favour of the Western military alliance.(With Reuters inputs)