The House approves the resolution that supports Finland’s and Sweden’s accession to NATO; 18 Republicans vote no
The House approved a resolution on Monday expressing support for Finland and Sweden joining NATO, exactly two months after the Nordic countries submitted applications to become part of the military alliance in the middle of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The resolution cleared Parliament in a 394-18 vote, with only Republicans voting in opposition. Two Democrats and 17 Republicans did not vote.
The group of GOP legislators who voted “no” included representatives Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Dan Bishop (NC), Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Madison Cawthorn (NC), Ben Cline (Va.), Michael Cloud (Texas). ), Warren Davidson (Ohio), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Bob Good (Va.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Morgan Griffith (Va.), Thomas Massie (Ky.), Tom McClintock (California), Mary Miller (Ill.), Ralph Norman (SC), Matt Rosendale (Mont.), Chip Roy (Texas) and Jeff Van Drew (NJ).
The measure, which has bipartisan sponsorship, expresses support for Finland’s and Sweden’s “historic decision” to apply to NATO, and calls on member states to formally support them in joining the military alliance.
It also opposes any efforts by the Russian Federation to react negatively to Finland’s and Sweden’s decision to join the alliance, and calls on NATO members to meet the two per cent defense spending that the countries signed at the 2014 Wales Summit. declaration said that NATO allies currently spending at least two percent of their GDP on defense would try and continue to do so.
The resolution was adopted by the House exactly two months after Finland and Sweden submitted their applications to join NATO. On June 29, the military alliance officially invited the two Nordic countries to join the group.
Even before that, on June 9, however, the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee approved a resolution by a vote calling on NATO to grant membership to Finland and Sweden quickly.
The demand for Finland and Sweden to join NATO gained momentum this year, especially after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on February 24 – which is still ongoing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently said that the war could end at the end of this year.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) Expressed support for the resolution during the debate on Monday’s floor of Parliament, saying that “two extraordinary new members” will be added to the European community, and underlined the value that two countries will bring. the alliance.
“Together, Finland and Sweden will add significant capacity to NATO’s collective defense and make the Baltic Sea Region much safer from Russian aggression. But much more than that, they will add value because of their values to our alliance, ”Hoyer said.
Hoyer also demanded Russia’s “strategic defeat” in the war, emphasizing the international significance of a victory for Kyiv.
“Vladimir Putin must not win this war. Not only for the sake of the Ukrainians and their extraordinary bravery, and for Mr Zelensky, their president, their bravery and leadership, but because the free world needs to send a very strong and clear and unmistakable message that tyranny will not prevail.
“We must send a message to dictators around the world that this act is unacceptable and will oppose the victory of the free world. We must defend the elusive principle of international law and norms that a nation can not just invade and try to conquer territory. from a neighbor by force, ”he added.
Rope. Michael Turner (R-Ohio), the ranked member of Parliament’s Intelligence Committee and a sponsor of the resolution, said that Finland and Sweden will be “significant security providers for NATO.”
“Finland’s and Sweden’s strategic position in northern Europe, advanced military and decades of fighting alongside the United States and NATO mean that their accession will immediately strengthen transatlantic security,” he said during the debate in Parliament’s floor.
Finland and Sweden have well-trained armed forces, sophisticated modern weapons systems and are committed to allocating two percent of their gross domestic product to defense spending. “Both militaries are very interoperable with NATO forces, having participated in many NATO-led operations from Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and Herzegovina to Kosovo,” he added.