The Senate will vote on ratifying Finland’s and Sweden’s membership in NATO
WASHINGTON — The Senate is expected to vote Wednesday on a resolution to ratify the applications of Finland and Sweden to join NATO as the Western military alliance seeks to strengthen its resolve against the threat from Russia.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Tuesday night that the chamber would vote Wednesday afternoon on the resolution and a pair of GOP amendments.
“Our NATO alliance is the foundation that has guaranteed democracy in the Western world since the end of World War II,” he said on the Senate floor. “This further strengthens NATO and is especially needed in light of recent Russian aggression.”
Finland and Sweden are seeking to join the alliance, which would end their long-standing military neutrality, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Schumer said when he and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., met with the Finnish president and Swedish prime minister in May, they committed to ratifying their NATO membership before the Senate recess in August.
The Majority Leader also said that he has invited the ambassadors of Finland and Sweden to watch the debate and votes from the chamber’s gallery.
One of the amendments expected to be voted on, from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., says the alliance’s agreement on collective defense if a member is attacked does not replace Congress’s role in declaring war. The other, from Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, says each member of NATO should commit to the 2% of gross domestic product spending goal.
NATO formally invited Finland and Sweden to join the alliance at the end of June, and all 30 NATO countries are considering their applications, which must be ratified by each member. Turkey initially threatened to oppose their membership in part because of their perceived support for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, but has since withdrawn its objections.
At least two-thirds of the Senate must vote in favor of the resolution for it to be ratified. When that happens, the Biden administration will submit the documents to the alliance.
Kate Santaliz contributed.