
President Obama and the First Lady have welcomed five Nordic leaders to the White House for a lavish state dinner after earlier putting on a show of unity against Vladimir Putin's recent military aggression in the Baltics.

The Obamas first welcomed Icelandic Prime Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson - who has only been in charge of his country for a month - and his wife Ingibjorg Elsa Ingjaldsdottir as they arrived at the North Portico of the White House.

They were swiftly followed by the prime ministers of Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway, who were also invited to the unusual - if a little crowded - meeting.

The dinner will send a strong statement to Russia, who the five heads of state earlier slammed for its military buildup - including the buzzing of a U.S. warship near Kaliningrad - as they called for economic sanctions against Moscow to be maintained.

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Elegant: Michelle Obama dazzled in a Naeem Khan off the shoulder gown and finished the look with gold jewelry and a wispy chignon as the guests arrived

The Obamas first welcomed Icelandic Prime Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson and his wife Ingibjorg Elsa Ingjaldsdottir as they arrived at the North Portico of the White House

Next to arrive were Finnish President Sauli Niinisto his wife Jenni Haukio, with the honor guard flying the U.S. and Finnish flags

Playful: First Lady Michelle Obama touches President Obama'a chin as they wait for the arrival of Nordic Leaders outside the White House

The dinner is a show of unity against recent aggression by Russia, with the five heads of state earlier expressing concern about Moscow's military buildup in the Baltics and calling for economic sanctions to be maintained. Pictured, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcome Stefan Lofven, Prime Minister of Sweden, and his wife Ulla Lofven

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg and her husband Sindre Finnes were also in attendance at the glitzy White House state dinner

President Obama and the First Lady have greeted five Nordic leaders after they arrived at the White House for a lavish state dinner. From left: Solrun Lokke Rasmussen and Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Sindre Finnes and Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Ingibjorg Elsa Ingjaldsdottir and Icelandic Prime Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson, First Lady Michelle Obama and President Obama, Jenni Haukio and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, and Ulla Lofven and Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven

All smiles; Actor Will Ferrell and his wife Viveca Paulin grinned as they walked into the White House holding hands on Friday evening

High fashion: Former Victoria's Secret model Miranda Kerr flashed a smile as she arrived at the dinner with her boyfriend, Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel

Demi Lovato belted out some of her hits after the dinner and President Obama had the best seat in the house for her performance

Michelle Obama dazzled in a Naeem Khan off the shoulder gown and finished the look with gold jewelry and a wispy chignon as the guests arrived.

Usually the First Lady opts for a dress made by a designer from the visiting country, but with five heads of state to please, she instead went for the Indian designer.

The president accidentally stepped on his wife's dress as they made their entrance, but she still looked impeccable.

Obama and Prime Minister Johannsson both wore black tuxedos to the dinner, which was originally meant to be attended by former Icelandic leader Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, who resigned following protests over his tax arrangements that were exposed in the Panama Papers scandal.

Also at the glitzy dinner were Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven.

As the leaders arrived, the Obamas stood outside to greet them, flanked by an honor guard.

But the flags the guardsman held had to be quickly changed five times to avoid the wrong one being flown as each leader arrived.

New to the White House? House of Cards star Joel Kinnaman - who is Swedish - and his tattoo artist wife Cleo Wattenstrom were at the dinner on Friday

Singer Janelle Monae (pictured arriving at the White House) was among more than 300 guests who were invited to the state dinner

Retired Late Show host David Letterman waved as he and his wife Regina Lasko arrived at the state dinner in honor of five Nordic leaders

Scandal star Bellamy Young and Edward Weeks chatted as they arrived at the state dinner for Nordic leaders at the White House

Dazzling: Girls actress Allison Williams wore a glittering black gown as she entered the White House on the arm of Ricky Van Veen

Actress Connie Britton flaunted her curves in a dark blue frock as she arrived at the lavish dinner with Gregory Clark on Friday evening

Al Roker and his wife Deborah Roberts were also invited to the dinner, with the weather forecaster deciding against a tuxedo

More than 300 guests - including actor Will Ferrell, David Letterman and former NBA star Alonzo Mourning - were invited to the dinner.

Ferrell, who attended the dinner with his Swedish wife, Vivica Paulin, said it was his first time at the White House.

'I hope we don't do anything wrong,' he joked.

Also expected are Girls actress Allison Williams, Scandal star Bellamy Young, singer Janelle Monae and former Victoria's Secret model Miranda Kerr, as well as a smattering of Nordic celebrities.

Several Democratic lawmakers were on the guest list, but no Republicans - a possible sign that Obama's efforts to win over his political rivals are waning as the end of his presidency nears.

Instead of sitting around circular tables, the guests dined at wooden farm tables set with white china, beveled crystal candlesticks and soaring ice vases with white field flowers.

The dinner was held in a tent with a transparent ceiling giving guests a view of the night sky - on a cloudy, drizzly evening.

Appetizers included salt-cured tuna along with chicken and waffles. The main course was braised beef short ribs from Nebraska.

Dessert was an homage to the fishing industry in the form of a blue, glowing, edible fishing boat, displayed with elderberry custard pie, raspberry kringle and gooseberry cookies.

After dinner, the guests will be serenaded by Demi Lovato.

In a toast before dinner was served, Obama said the night would not deliver any entertainment as crazy as the popular Norwegian television program National Firewood Night, which shows logs burning in a fireplace.

'That's crazy. I don't want things to get out of hand,' the president said.

Obama ribbed the Nordic countries, sometimes viewed as socialist utopias, over their 'fierce debates' over which country is happiest and which country is the true hometown of Santa Claus.

Comedian Aziz Ansari and his mother Fatima looked pleased to be at the White House, with Mrs Ansari dazzling in her blue ensemble

Actress Tracee Ellis Ross of the show Black-ish looked majestic in her white dress, which she complimented with long gold earrings

NBC News anchor Lester Holt strolled in to the White House arm-in-arm with his wife Carol Hagen Holt, who wore a floral patterned dress

And politics too: US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power (left with Cass Sunstein) and White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest (right, with his wife Natalie) were also on the guest list

President Barack Obama cracked a few jokes before the state dinner for the leaders of Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark got under way

After speaking to the gathered leaders and more than 300 guests, President Obama took his seat for dinner next to the First Lady

President Obama clinked glasses with Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen as they toasted the two countries' relationship

Iceland Prime Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson and Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen were both given the opportunity to speak before the guests tucked in to their sumptuous dinner

The couple had earlier walked into the extravagantly-decorated tent ahead of the state dinner, which will include chicken and waffles, ribs and elderberry custard pie

Obama and the five leaders gathered at the White House earlier on Friday for talks that focused on Russia and the crisis in Syria and Iraq that has sparked a flood of migrants to Europe.

Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 alarmed its Nordic and Baltic neighbors. With NATO considering ways to try to deter further Russian aggression, the Obama administration wants to show support for its northern European allies.

Obama said the six countries were united in their concern about Russia's 'aggressive military presence' in the Baltic and Nordic regions.

Last month, a Russian jet fighter intercepted a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance plane flying a routine route over the Baltic Sea, and two Russian jets buzzed a U.S. guided missile destroyer in the sea.

NATO is planning its biggest build-up in eastern Europe since the Cold War to counter what the alliance considers to be a more aggressive Russia. Sweden and Finland are not NATO members.