US President Joe Biden welcomed Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson to the White House after the leaders of the two Nordic countries submitted applications for NATO membership.

Sweden and Finland's applications for NATO membership come in response to Russia's war in Ukraine, which has raised security concerns across the region.

Their moves to join the military alliance mark a dramatic evolution in European security and geopolitics, reports

cnn

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NOW: Pres.

Biden is meeting at the White House with Finland's President Sauli Niinistö (left) and Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson after they applied for NATO membership, despite expected veto from Turkey >> https://t.co/kWWzQiLcf6 on @KATUNews pic.twitter .com / ohaSfOy8kF

- Evan Schreiber (@SchreiberEvan) May 19, 2022

The leaders will hold a meeting in the "Cabinet Room" of the White House and will later declare to the media from the "Rose Garden".

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters Wednesday that the meeting with leaders in Washington would allow the three nations to "coordinate on the road ahead" and "compare notes" on the move.

He called Finland and Sweden's applications to join the alliance "a crucial moment in European security".

/ Telegraphy /