Sweden officially joins NATO, becoming alliance’s 32nd member

(CNN) — Sweden became NATO’s 32nd member after Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Thursday formally handed over accession documents to the US State Department.

Posted 4:41 p.m. Mar 7 — Updated 4:41 p.m. Mar 7

Radina Gigova

, CNN

CNN — (CNN) — Sweden became NATO’s 32nd member after Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Thursday formally handed over accession documents to the US State Department.

“With receipt of this instrument of accession let me be the very first to welcome Sweden as a party to the Washington Treaty and the 32nd member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday alongside the Swedish Prime Minister.

The documents are put into a vault at the State Department, which serves as the treaty depositary for NATO.

Sweden’s bid to join the bloc was spurred by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago, but was for months obstructed by Turkey and Hungary, which enjoy friendly relations with Moscow and delayed ratifying Sweden’s accession.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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