Two thirds of NATO member countries also supported joining the Alliance of Scandinavian countries.
President of the United States Joe Biden signed protocols on the ratification of NATO membership of Finland and Sweden. The process was broadcast live on the official pages of the White House.
Biden believes that this step will make Europe and the whole world safer and allow allies to “shape the future we want to see”.
“They (Russia – ed.) hoped for a weakening of NATO. They wanted to see the “Finlandization” of NATO, but instead they got Finland in NATO,” the president said.
Biden congratulated Sweden and Finland on joining NATO and called the joining of these countries to the Alliance a “watershed moment”.
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“I believe in the Alliance and in greater security and stability not only of Europe and the United States, but also of the whole world,” he emphasized.
Happening Now: President Biden delivers remarks and signs the Instruments of Ratification for Finland and Sweden's NATO Accession Protocols. https://t.co/3dKIPosIFt
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 9, 2022
At the end of June, NATO formalized its invitation for these two countries to join Alliance, so the decision was sent to the parliaments and legislative bodies of 30 member states for final ratification. As of the end of July, the protocols were ratified by two-thirds of NATO member countries.
Read also: Stoltenberg expects the rapid ratification of Sweden and Finland's accession to NATO by all allies
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We remind you that Sweden and Finland announced their intention to join NATO in May, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine caused a sudden change in attitude towards joining the bloc. On June 29, the Alliance officially started the process of accepting both countries. A moderate opponent of countries joining the Alliance is Turkey.
