US President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed the ratification documents, officially confirming Nordic countries Finland and Sweden’s entry to NATO, one week after the Senate approved their membership.
The Russian/Ukrainian conflict is causing NATO, the most powerful military alliance in the world, to grow.
Biden stated: “It was and still is a pivotal time. I support the alliance and improved security and stability for the entire world, not just for Europe and the United States.”
The US president said, “Putin felt he could break us apart,” while speaking from the White House’s East Room. He was making fun of Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia. Our alliance will be much stronger if Finland and Sweden join since we are now closer and more united than ever.
As part of the formal process, Sweden and Finland require ratification from the other allies after Biden signs. Article Five of NATO applies to the two countries, under which an attack against one ally has been deemed an attack against all if all 30 NATO allies sign the agreement.
It is important to remember that following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February of this year, both Nordic nations accelerated their application processes to join the nuclear-armed alliance.
Putin had consistently cautioned against NATO expansion before the invasion, saying it was a threat to Russia and went against promises made to it as the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991.
Why is Putin so against this inclusion?Â
Putin says he has “no problem” with Finland and Sweden joining NATO, but he does issue a warning.
The entry of Finland and Sweden into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been discouraged by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The constant efforts by NATO to entice such nations into the circle of its interests and opportunistic actions haven’t gone ignored by Russia, according to the ministry’s spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
She emphasized that it was “very evident” that Finland and Sweden joining NATO would have significant military and political repercussions. She added that Russia would need to respond appropriately.
Zakharova continued, “Moscow views the policy of not taking part in any coalitions, traditionally pursued by Stockholm and Helsinki, as a vital factor in keeping stability in northern Europe.
This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that NATO had “brazenly misled” his nation with its continual expansion since the end of the Cold War.
Moscow claims that NATO’s growth poses a threat to it and that it has broken promises made to it as the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991.
It has made extensive security demands of the West, stating that NATO cannot accept new members and attempting to prevent the US from establishing new bases in former USSR republics.
