This could be the start of NATO’s biggest expansion in years.

Today, EU-based defensive bloc NATO formally extended invitations to join its ranks to Sweden and Finland. These invitations come after Turkey officially dropped its existing objections against joining the bloc, and runs contrary to the wishes of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who originally launched his invasion of Ukraine out of fears of a NATO expansion. Ironically, Finland, Sweden, and Turkey have been spurred forward toward joining NATO by Putin’s invasion.

“The accession of Finland and Sweden will make them safer, NATO stronger, and the Euro-Atlantic area more secure. The security of Finland and Sweden is of direct importance to the Alliance, including during the accession process,” NATO said in a statement.

Assuming everyone is in agreement, the decision will just need to go through final ratification by the parliaments of the NATO member states. This process is expected to move quickly in order to raise a united front against Putin. Should the countries join, it would make for the largest, most significant expansion of NATO’s size and power in years.

“I said Putin’s looking for the Finlandization of Europe. He’s going to get the NATOization of Europe. And that is exactly what he didn’t want, but exactly what needs to be done to guarantee security for Europe. And I think it’s necessary,” US President Joe Biden, who has been pushing for a strengthening of NATO’s forces, said on the matter.