Finland and Sweden share a long history, similar legal systems, and an economic and social model. Finland was part of Sweden for almost 700 years from around 1150 until the Finnish War of 1809 after which Finland became an autonomous part of the Russian Empire as the Grand Duchy of Finland. Since Finland gained its full independence from Russia in 1917, Finland and Sweden have been close partners, enjoying a special relationship. The number of Finnish-Swedish connections and the quality of cooperation in most areas of the government is unique when compared to other international relations involving both countries. The Swedish language has an official status in Finland, whilst Finns form the largest ethnic minority in Sweden, estimated to be about 675,000. Both Finland and Sweden joined the European Union together in 1995. However, both countries are not full members of NATO. Relationships are maintained at the highest political level on a regular basis, and interactions between public authorities and civil society are very strong. New elements of the special relationship are the official minority language status that the Finnish language received in Sweden, as well as the business integration between the two countries. On May 15, 2022, with the formal backing of Finland's ruling party, President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin formally announced Finland's intent to join NATO. Soon afterward, The Swedish Riksdag also approved of applying to join NATO. This joint bid to join the organization came as a result of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia has since stopped its electricity export to Finland, with Finland expecting to import from Sweden as a result. Finland has an embassy in Stockholm, consulate general in Gothenburg and 21 consulates in Borlänge, Borås, Eskilstuna, Gävle, Haparanda, Halmstad, Karlshamn, Karlskoga, Karlstad, Landskrona, Luleå, Malmö, Norrköping, Oskarshamn, Skellefteå, Sundsvall, Trollhättan, Uppsala, Umeå, Visby and Västerås. Sweden has an embassy in Helsinki, consulate general in Mariehamn, and 17 consulates in Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kokkola, Kotka, Kuopio, Lahti, Lappeenranta, Mikkeli, Oulu, Jakobstad, Pori, Raseborg, Rovaniemi, Tampere, Tornio, Turku and Vaasa. On a larger scale both Finland and Sweden also share a special relationship with all the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland and Norway). The two countries became members of the European Union in 1995. Country comparison History Viking period and Swedish crusades Contact between Sweden and what is now Finland was considerable even during pre-Christian times. The Vikings were known to Finns