Nato boss says Finland and Sweden would be warmly welcomed in the alliance

Media speculation in the two countries suggest the two might apply in mid-May

Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg (Olivier Matthys/AP)

Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said that Finland and Sweden would be embraced with open arms should they decide to join the 30-nation military organisation and could become members quite quickly.

Mr Stoltenberg’s remarks came as public support in Finland and Sweden for Nato membership mounts in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.