Hungary has approved Sweden's bid to join NATO, the final hurdle to membership

Before E Europe, the Baltic region effort was a years-long US State Department effort to bring Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania in, called Partnership for Peace. Marines from mostly E Coast participated in 3 annual operations. While OIC, II MEF (FWD) our crew pulled gear out of caves in Norway and transported by air, rail and sea to Estonia, where we met with the fly-in forces and MPF guys and equipment via England and conducted exercises there. This one was called Baltic Challenge 97. Democracy via NATO membership takes time. Others have since joined.