Earlier this year, Sweden and Finland formally submitted their application for NATO membership. In June, NATO Allies extended a formal invitation to both partners to join the alliance, and Accession Protocols are now under consideration for ratification at each allied capital. This decision, unthinkable prior to Putin’s war in Ukraine, will have a significant impact for European security. How might Sweden and Finland’s membership in NATO address previously perceived vulnerabilities in the Nordic-Baltic region? How will NATO membership impact Sweden’s bilateral defense relationship with the United States? What opportunities could this open for deeper defense cooperation among countries in the Nordic-Baltic region?