By Anthony Marcus, for Eurasia Business News, August 9, 2022

The United States has ratified the agreements for the admission of Finland and Sweden to NATO. The Membership protocols were signed by US President Joe Biden today.

“This step will make Europe and the world safer… Together with our allies, we ourselves will form the future that we want to see” the US president said.

Before signing the protocols, the U.S. president called on all allies in the alliance to approve the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO as soon as possible. Earlier today, he held a telephone conversation with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, in which he discussed the ratification of the nordic countries’ applications to join the North Atlantic Alliance.

Full ratification of the NATO membership of Finland and Sweden requires all Allies to endorse the relevant instruments at national level.

Last week, the Senate of the US Congress voted to ratify the NATO membership protocols of Finland and Sweden in NATO. The initiative was supported by 95 senators, one opposed. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) was the only senator to vote against a resolution on August 3rd backing Finland’s and Sweden’s entry to NATO.

On May 18, Finland and Sweden filed applications with NATO amid escalating hostilities in Ukraine.

In early July, the foreign ministers of Finland and Sweden, Pekka Haavisto and Ann Linde, signed protocols on joining NATO. Since then, these countries have been eligible to participate in all meetings of the alliance, but have not yet been able to vote.

Initially, Turkey opposed the annexation because of the support of these countries for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which Ankara considers a terrorist organization. However, Stockholm and Helsinki agreed on a decision with Ankara, the parties signed a memorandum.

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