Brussels [Belgium]May 18 (ANI): Finland and Sweden submitted letters on Wednesday formally expressing interest in joining NATO, an important moment for two European countries that held the position of military alliance until Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The letters were conveyed by the Finnish ambassador and the Swedish NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Alliance’s headquarters in Brussels.
Stoltenberg warmly welcomed the requests and said “This is a good day, at a critical moment for our safety.” “A historic day. Today, Finland and Sweden submit letters expressing their countries’ interest in applying for NATO membership to SG @jensstoltenberg,” Finland said in NATO in a tweet.
Stoltenberg described the NATO applications as a historic step.
“Allies will now consider the next step on your path to NATO. The security interests of all Allies must be taken into account and we are determined to work thoughtfully on all issues and reach swift conclusions,” Stoltenberg said after receiving the applications.
“All allies agree on the importance of NATO enlargement. We all agree that we must stand together. And we all agree that this is a historic moment that we must seize,” he added.
This decision comes a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Finland’s and Sweden’s applications to join NATO do not pose a direct threat to Russia. However, he warned the Western military alliance to move weapons into the territories of the two countries.
“Regarding enlargement (by NATO), including through new members of the alliance – Finland, Sweden – Russia wants to inform you that it has no problems with these states,” Putin said on Monday when speaking at a meeting in Moscow of leaders from the member countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
“Therefore, in this sense, expansion because of these countries does not pose a direct threat to Russia.” (ANI)