Sweden has formally joined NATO as the 32nd member of the transatlantic military alliance, ending decades of post-World War II neutrality as concerns about Russian aggression in Europe have spiked.
The guest list includes a woman whose sister was killed in the Uvalde shooting, the United Auto Workers president, and a naval officer who helped protect ships from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
Hungary's parliament has approved Sweden's bid to join NATO, clearing the way for the Nordic nation's accession to the military alliance after two years of intense negotiations.
Former President Donald Trump's anecdote about encouraging Russian aggression toward some NATO countries is a sign of his foreign policy plans if elected — or maybe it's not.
The Republican front-runner said that, as president, he warned NATO allies that he "would encourage" Russia "to do whatever the hell they want" to countries that don't meet their spending commitments.
Ex-Prime Minister Alexander Stubb, who represents the conservative National Coalition Party, will face former Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, who is making his third run for the office, on Feb. 11.
Turkish legislators endorsed Sweden's membership in NATO, lifting a major hurdle on the previously nonaligned country's entry into the military alliance.
The NATO and EU member borders Belarus, the Russian territory of Kaliningrad and Ukraine — plus a strip of land connecting it to Lithuania. It is an unstable and volatile mix of frontiers.