Joe Biden signs ratification of Finland, Sweden NATO bid
WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed US ratification of bids by Finland and Sweden to join NATO, taking the expansion of the Western alliance in response to Russia’s Ukraine invasion a step closer.
Biden said the two northern European countries would become “strong, reliable and very capable new allies” by making the “sacred commitment” to mutual defense in the US-led transatlantic alliance.
Earlier this month, the Senate voted 95-1 in favor of joining the Nordic states, making the United States the 23rd of the 30 NATO countries to give formal support. Unanimous support is needed for new membership.
Biden, who has made restoring traditional US alliances a cornerstone of his administration following Donald Trump’s push to sever ties around the world, hailed NATO as “the bedrock of American security.”
“The United States is committed to the transatlantic alliance.”
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Biden also praised Finland and Sweden, saying both have “strong democratic institutions, strong militaries and strong and transparent economies” that would now strengthen NATO.
The White House said that before the signing, Biden spoke by phone with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto.
“President Biden congratulated them on the US Senate’s swift, bipartisan ratification of their NATO Accession Protocol and welcomed that Finland and Sweden moved one step closer to becoming NATO allies,” the White House said.
While the process unfolds, “President Biden assured that the United States will work with Finland and Sweden to remain vigilant against all threats to our shared security and to deter and confront aggression or threats of aggression,” the statement said.