(VOVWORLD) -Sweden’s flag has been raised at NATO headquarters in Brussels for the first time, marking its accession to NATO membership.
 Sweden's flag raising ceremony at NATO headquarters. (Photo: nato.int) |
Sweden’s flag was hoisted to join the flags of the other 31 allies. Flag-raising ceremonies took place simultaneously at Allied Command Operations (SHAPE) in Mons (Belgium) and at Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia (United States).
At the ceremony, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg extended a warm welcome to Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, emphasizing that Sweden’s accession to NATO shows that NATO’s door is open.
Following Sweden’s official induction into NATO, and Finland’s recent induction, all countries bordering the Baltic Sea, with the exception of Russia, have now joined NATO.