Sweden officially became a member of NATO, joining Finland in the alliance s largest expansion since the 1990s. This move comes amid rising tensions with Russia and NATO s efforts to bolster its defences. With 32 member countries, including the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Turkey, NATO aims to counter threats from "authoritarian states" like Russia. Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia also aspire to join NATO, highlighting the alliance s role in today s geopolitical landscape.