Finland’s parliament has approved a proposal to apply for membership in the NATO military alliance, with 188 votes in favor and eight against.

Speaker Matti Vanhanen made the disclosure on Tuesday.

Earlier, Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf disclosed his country’s intention to join NATO “simultaneously and in agreement with Finland”.

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At a joint press conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö in Stockholm, he said, “This is a historic choice that we are making side-by-side with our brother country.’’

The monarch said that challenges facing both countries against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine meant “opportunities for consensus and deepened cooperation to stand even stronger together.’’ (Reuters/NAN)