President Joe Biden on Tuesday formally welcomed Finland and Sweden joining the NATO alliance as they signed the instruments of ratification, which gave the US formal support for the Nordic nations entering into a mutual defense pact, on Ukraine. Part of reshaping the European security posture after the Russian invasion. ,
“In seeking to join NATO, Finland and Sweden are making a solemn commitment that an attack against one is an attack against all,” Biden said at the signing as he called the partnership an “inevitable alliance.”
The US became the 23rd ally to ratify NATO membership for both countries. Biden said he spoke with the heads of both countries before signing the ratification and urged the remaining NATO members to end their own ratification process “as soon as possible”.
The Senate last week approved two, once non-aligned nations joining the coalition in a rare 95-1 vote that Biden said shows the world that “the United States can still do great things” for political unity. with the feeling of.
Countries called for NATO membership earlier this year to guarantee their security in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attack in Ukraine. The rules of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization require the consent of all 30 of its current members before Finland and Sweden can officially join the alliance, which is expected in the coming months.
The candidatures of the two prosperous northern European nations have received ratification from more than half of NATO member states in the nearly three months since both applied. It is one of the fastest expansion of an agreement of mutual defense between the United States and democratic allies in Europe in its 73-year history.
US state and defense officials regard both countries as pure “security providers”, bolstering NATO’s defense posture, particularly in the Baltics. Finland is expected to exceed NATO’s 2% GDP defense spending target in 2022, and Sweden has committed to meet the 2% target.
Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO in May, setting aside their longstanding stance of military non-alignment. It was a major overhaul of security arrangements for both countries after neighboring Russia launched a war on Ukraine in late February. Biden encouraged their involvement and in May welcomed the heads of government of the two countries to the White House, standing shoulder to shoulder with them in a show of support for America.
The US and its European allies have criticized Putin’s military offensive this year as well as widespread statements from the Russian leader denouncing NATO, issuing oblique reminders of Russia’s nuclear arsenal and Russia’s historic claims to many of its territories. For emphasis has rallied with new partnerships. neighbors.