Borrell highlighted that Sweden's entry into NATO would strengthen the alliance and the EU.

The European Union's (EU) head of diplomacy, Josef Borrell, today welcomed Sweden's entry into NATO, guaranteeing that it would boost the strategic partnership between the two parties and strengthen both the alliance and the Atlantic alliance.

“Twenty-three EU member states will now be part of the alliance. This strengthens the EU and NATO and promotes the EU-NATO strategic partnership”, Borrell highlighted via social media, after the Hungarian parliament's approval in Stockholm, the last step to complete the process.

The Hungarian delegation approved Stockholm's candidacy to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) by a majority (188 votes out of 199 seats).

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, both Finland and Sweden jointly applied for membership in the transatlantic alliance.

Finland became a full member of NATO on April 4 last year, doubling the alliance's borders with Russia.

As for Sweden, Turkey and Hungary still kept their veto.

Ankara, which has agreed security responsibilities with Helsinki and Stockholm and was skeptical of Swedish involvement in the fight against Kurdish terrorism, approved membership in late January.

Once a consensus has been reached from all countries, a few more administrative steps must be completed in order for Sweden to become a full member of the alliance and benefit from collective defense in the event of an attack.

Sweden must deposit the so-called Accession Protocol in the hands of the US, which is kept at the US State Department in Washington.

In a symbolic culmination, the Swedish flag will be raised in a ceremony at NATO headquarters in Brussels along with 31 other allies.