Brussels, Representatives of the 30 members of NATO have signed accession protocols starting the process to admit Sweden and Finland into the alliance, multiple diplomats confirmed to dpa.

The accession protocols permit NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to formally invite Sweden and Finland to join the alliance.

Each NATO member still has to ratify the invitations with legislative approval of the accession protocols – a process involving the national parliaments that is estimated to last another six to eight months.

Source: Oman News Agency