They are likely to remain very close partners of NATO without becoming full members, something Carnegie Europe analyst Andrei Kolesnikov described as "smoking without inhaling".
They take part in NATO military drills, including parts of those scripted around Article V which lays down the principle of collective security, but are not bound by it as non-members.
Sweden was involved in NATO's 2011 air campaign in Libya and both Nordic neighbors sent troops to the alliance's mission in Afghanistan.
"They cannot be part of decision-making but they are definitely part of decision-shaping. The fact that the leaders will discuss Russia at the summit dinner, and that Sweden and Finland take part, sends a message," said a NATO official.
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