Ukraine Gate- Washington– May 19, 2022 – US President Joe Biden announced his support for Sweden and Finland to join NATO, adding that their inclusion would increase the strength of allies.
On Thursday, Biden received the leaders of Sweden and Finland at the White House, where he praised the two former neutral countries’ bid to join NATO in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Biden welcomed Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö at the White House for tripartite talks on the NATO Mutual Defense Agreement, as well as broader European security concerns.
The Biden administration has expressed optimism about the two countries’ requests to join the alliance, which would be a major embarrassment for Russia despite continued Turkish opposition.
Asked if he was confident in his ability to secure their accession to NATO, Biden replied: “I think things are going well.”
What is the significance of Sweden and Finland joining NATO after decades of neutrality?
While Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the alliance to stop expansion towards Russia’s borders, many NATO allies, led by the United States and Britain, affirmed their readiness to provide security support to Finland and Sweden in case the Kremlin tries to provoke or destabilize either country until the two countries obtain full membership.
Although Finland and Sweden enjoyed neutrality throughout the Cold War, but now cooperate closely with NATO, countries will only benefit from Article 5 of the NATO Security Assurance – a clause in the alliance’s founding treaty that states that an attack on one of its members is an attack on them all. Once the membership certification process is completed.
Public opinion in Finland and Sweden shifted dramatically in favor of membership following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Given the need for unanimity in decision-making, each of NATO’s 30 member states has the ability to veto an application for membership. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced in a video clip today, Thursday, that he still opposes the two countries joining the alliance.
