Lipavský hails joint Finland and Sweden NATO application

The Czech minister of foreign affairs, Jan Lipavský, has hailed the joint application of Finland and Sweden for membership of NATO as a historic milestone for the two countries as well as for NATO itself.

Mr. Lipavský said on Twitter that the expansion of the alliance would make it even stronger and said the Prague government would do all it could to swiftly finalise the ratification process allowing Finland and Sweden to join NATO.

The Czech cabinet on Wednesday voted to ratify the countries' accession; this must be followed by votes in the two houses of Parliament.

The two states formally submitted their applications for membership on Wednesday morning.