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US President Joe Biden is currently meeting at the White House with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson to discuss their countries’ bid for NATO membership, support for Ukraine and European security.
On Wednesday, Mr Biden praised what he called an important decision by Sweden and Finland after they submitted a formal application for membership in the military alliance, a move that comes in response to concerns raised by the Russian attack on Ukraine.
“I welcome and strongly support the historic demands of Finland and Sweden for NATO membership and look forward to working with the US Congress and NATO allies to make Finland and Sweden part of the strongest defense alliance in history.” said Mr. Biden.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told his Swedish counterpart Peter Hultqvist that “We look forward to your contributions to the NATO alliance.”
Mr Hultqvist said Sweden was exercising its right to choose over its own security.
“This is a time when the democracies of Europe and North America must unite against clear Russian aggression.” he said.
The announcement about the official request of Finland and Sweden was given on Wednesday by the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, during a joint conference with the ambassadors of these countries in Brussels.
“This is a good day at a crucial time for our security.” said Mr. Stoltenberg. “All allies agree on the importance of NATO enlargement. “We all agree that we should be united and that this is a historic moment that we should seize.”
A senior US defense official said Mr Austin and his Swedish counterpart Hultqvist discussed the period when NATO allies would consider the membership of these Nordic countries in the alliance until the finalization of the membership process.
The official said Secretary Austin made it clear that the United States is satisfied with the Swedish military and that it is ready to discuss security and other needs to protect it and deter Russia, if necessary.
On Wednesday, the overwhelming majority of the Finnish parliament voted in favor of NATO membership with 188 votes in favor and 8 against.
The demands of Finland and Sweden mark a major shift in the neutral status of the two Nordic countries for decades, since the Cold War. Moscow’s decision to attack neighboring Ukraine on February 24 raised fears in both countries, particularly in Finland, which shares a more than 1,300-kilometer border with Russia.
The 30 NATO member states are expected to consider the requirements of Finland and Sweden in a simplified process, unlike the regular procedure which usually takes up to a year.
Only Turkey has expressed reservations about the Nordic countries’ membership. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses these countries of harboring “terrorists” and imposing sanctions on Turkey.
NATO membership requires the consensual approval of all members.
Sweden and Finland are members of the European Union. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West that Moscow would respond if NATO increased its military presence in Finland and Sweden, shortly after the two Nordic countries announced on Sunday that they wanted to join the US-dominated alliance./VOA
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