Italy fully backs Finland, Sweden joining NATO - foreign minister

Italy will fully support NATO membership for Finland and Sweden, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Friday. "We as Italy will be very happy to welcome these two countries in this great alliance that defends its member countries and...

Italy will fully support NATO membership for Finland and Sweden, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Friday. "We as Italy will be very happy to welcome these two countries in this great alliance that defends its member countries and... which has guaranteed peace for decades," Di Maio told reporters in Berlin.

Finland said on Thursday it would seek to join the US-led military alliance without delay and Sweden is expected to follow its neighbour's lead as early as Monday. (Reporting By Gavin Jones, editing by Giulia Segreti)