AP PROVIDES ACCESS TO THIS PUBLICLY DISTRIBUTED HANDOUT PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE SWEDISH ARMED FORCES; FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY; SWEDEN OUT; NO ARCHIVE ; USE FULL BYLINE
FILE - In this photo provided by the Swedish Armed Forces on Aug. 25, 2020, troops prepare in the Baltic Sea region. Finland appears on the cusp of joining NATO. Sweden could follow suit. By year's end, they could stand among the alliance's ranks. Russia's war in Ukraine has provoked a public about face on membership in the two Nordic countries. They are already NATO's closest partners, but should Russia respond to their membership moves they might soon need the organization's military support. (Joel Thungren/Swedish Armed Forces/TT via AP, File)