Vilnius to host flag-raising ceremony to mark Sweden's accession to NATO

VILNIUS - The Swedish flag will be raised during a ceremony outside Lithuania's Defense Ministry on Friday to congratulate the Nordic neighbor on its accession to NATO, the ministry said.

The ceremony will be attended by Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas, Swedish Ambassador to Lithuania Lars Wahlund, representatives of the Defense Ministry and the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

"We have been waiting for this moment for a long time. Finally we can welcome Sweden to NATO! Sweden's membership is not only important for the security situation in the Baltic Sea region. With its military capabilities, Sweden will significantly strengthen deterrence in peacetime and in times of crisis, and will contribute to stability not only in our region, but also within the Alliance as a whole," Anusauskas said.

Finland's accession last year and Sweden's accession means significant expansion of NATO.