STOCKHOLM: Sweden on Monday cleared its final obstacle to joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after Hungary's parliament ratified the bid in what the Nordic country's prime minister called a 'historic day,' while other alliance members expressed relief at the move spurred by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Sweden would make the alliance 'stronger and safer' while the United States, the alliance's main power, as well as the United Kingdom and Germany, welcomed Stockholm's now-imminent accession.