The president said the military bloc is ?indispensable? to world peace at the same time that Finland and Sweden’s membership bids are ratified
US President Joe Biden has approved the applications of Finland and Sweden to join NATO, saying the alliance’s new members will make it as strong as it has ever been while vowing to challenge Russia and “autocrats” who threaten it” the rules-based order”.
Speak moments before signing the US instrument of ratification for the Nordic states’ NATO membership on Tuesday, Biden hailed the US-led military collective, claiming it had kept Americans safe and served as “the foundation of our security around the world”.
“Our alliance is closer than ever. It is more united than ever. And when Finland and Sweden raise the number of allies to 32, we will be stronger than ever,” the president said, adding that the two countries “have strong democratic institutions, strong militaries and strong and transparent economies” and will “meet all NATO requirements.”
Spurred on by Russia’s offensive in Ukraine, Finland and Sweden decided to join NATO after decades of neutrality, officially applying for membership back in May. The bloc quickly took up these requests, with Washington and other key member states pledging to approve their bid as soon as possible.
Biden directly condemned Russia in his remarks on Tuesday, claiming that President Vladimir Putin had “shattered the peace and security of Europe”. He added that Washington’s commitment to NATO is “more important than it has ever been” at a time when “autocrats are challenging the very foundations of a rules-based order,” apparently referring to Moscow’s military action.
While more than 20 of NATO’s 30 members have ratified their accession, Sweden and Finland require unanimous consent from the alliance to join. Both initially faced strong opposition from Turkey, but appear to have reached tentative agreements to satisfy Ankara’s terms.
Although Moscow has long expressed concern about NATO’s eastward expansion โ Finland shares an 800-mile border with Russia โ President Putin has stated that Russia has “no problem” with either country and does not see their membership as an “immediate threat.” “
(RT.com)
Source: sn.dk