Finland hails 'new era' as it seeks to join NATO

Finland declared on Sunday that it wants to join NATO. Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin made the announcement that Finland would seek NATO membership.

The Finnish Parliament is expected to endorse the decision in coming days. A formal membership application will then be submitted to NATO headquarters in Brussels, most likely at some point next week.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he was confident the accession process for Finland and Sweden could be expedited.

Speaking after top diplomats from the alliance’s 30 member states met in Berlin, he said the alliance would increase its presence in the Baltic region to deter Russian threats.