Sweden has joined Nato, the military alliance of countries in Europe and North America.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Nato has admitted Sweden and Finland as new members and has also been bolstering its defences in eastern Europe.
Nato – the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – was formed in 1949 by 12 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and France.
Its aim was to block expansion by the Soviet Union – a group of communist states which included Russia.
Members agree that if one of them is attacked, the others should help it defend itself.
Nato does not have an army of its own, but member countries can take collective military action in response to crises. They also coordinate military plans and carry out joint military exercises.
After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Nato said that it posed the "most significant and direct threat to allies' security".
Nato now has 32 members across Europe and North America, including the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Turkey.
After the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, many Eastern European countries joined: Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Sweden and Finland applied to join in May 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They had been neutral for decades.
Finland – which has a 1,340km (832 mile) land border with Russia – joined in April 2023.
Sweden became a member in March 2024, after its membership was held up by both Turkey and Hungary.
Turkey said Sweden had been giving refuge to members of groups such as the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which it considers a terrorist organisation. However, it decided to back Sweden's membership in January.
Hungary's government was angry that Sweden had accused it of behaving undemocratically, but agreed to let it join in February.
With Sweden and Finland joining Nato, it is seeing its biggest expansion since the 1990s. They will add nearly 300,000 active and reserve troops to the alliance's ranks.
Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia also hope to join Nato.
Nato's secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, has said it is "inevitable" that Ukraine will become a member, but not until its war with Russia ends.
President Zelensky has asked for Ukraine to be admitted as soon as possible afterwards.
Since July 2023, the Nato-Ukraine Council has coordinated efforts to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia.
Russia has consistently opposed the idea of Ukraine joining Nato, fearing it would bring the alliance's forces too close to its own territory.
Nato asks member states to spend at least 2% of their national income on defence.
The US spends nearly 3.5% and several countries which border Russia – such as Poland and the Baltic Republics – also spend more than 2% on their armed forces.
UK spending is just above the 2% target.
However, countries such as France, Germany, Italy and Spain spent less than the target in 2023.
Former US President Donald Trump, who is campaigning for re-election, controversially said he would encourage Russia to attack Nato countries which failed to spend enough on defence.
Nato said there was an "unprecedented rise" in defence spending by several members in 2023, and that 18 countries were expected to meet the 2% level in 2024.
As a group, Nato has not sent weapons to Ukraine, but several individual member countries have.
The US, UK, Germany and Turkey have provided anti-tank weapons, missile defence systems, artillery guns, tanks and military drones.
The US and UK have also supplied long-range missiles.
The US is allowing two Nato countries, Denmark and the Netherlands, to transfer US-made F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, once pilots have been trained to fly them.
Ukrainian media say the first planes could arrive in spring 2024.
However, Nato countries have not sent troops to Ukraine, and ruled out using their air forces to impose a no-fly zone over the country, because of fears such action could provoke a direct conflict with Russia.
In 2023, Nato commanders agreed detailed plans for countering possible Russian attacks in the Arctic and north Atlantic, central Europe, or the Mediterranean region.
It also announced plans to increase the number of its troops in Europe on high alert from 40,000 to more than 300,000. In addition, it has bolstered its defences on its eastern flank, bordering Russia, with eight battlegroups.
Until the end of May, Nato is staging Steadfast Defender, one of its largest ever military exercises, involving 90,000 personnel from all Nato countries – including Sweden.
This video can not be played
Hundreds of people lined the shoreline to watch HMS Prince of Wales depart for the exercise
Nato
Europe and US need each other, Nato chief says
Myanmar's military-ruled capital attacked by drones
Taiwan quake 'rained rocks like bullets' – survivor
The unprecedented booing of an Indian cricket star
‘You see skeletons’ – South Africa's deadly border
Ukraine gives award to vigilantes for Russia hacks
What we know about Israeli strike on aid convoy
Jeremy Bowen: The Israel-Gaza war is at a crossroads
Deadly strike shows aid workers' protection in crisis, agencies say
China will have 300 million pensioners. Can it afford them?
Dunst: 'I didn't even think to ask for equal pay'
Will Truth Social solve Trump's money problems?
Is mushroom coffee better for you than a regular brew?
Greg Foot speaks to a fungi expert to find out what the potential benefits are
The heat in the MasterChef kitchen is back on!
Join John Torode and Gregg Wallace as they sample their way through this year's mouth-watering dishes
From Eurovision to conquering the world
ABBA's current manager, Görel Hanser, looks back at the group's meteoric rise to stardom
Robin Williams: from iconic shots to private snaps
Ten defining pictures throw a unique lens onto an extraordinary life
© 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
What is Nato, which countries are members and why has Sweden joined? – BBC.com
Leave a comment