US President Joe Biden signed the protocols admitting Finland and Sweden to NATO.
“This step will make Europe and the world safer. Together with our allies, we will shape the future we want to see,” the American president stated.
He also suggested that Russia aims to weaken NATO. He quipped that Russia expected NATO to become Finlandized but ended up with NATO in Finland.
Before signing the protocols, Biden urged all alliance members to ratify Finland and Sweden’s entry as quickly as possible.
“Finland and Sweden have strong democratic institutions, capable armed forces, and transparent, robust economies. They meet every criterion for NATO membership. We are confident of that. In welcoming them, the alliance gains stronger security for Americans and allies alike,” he said.
Biden announced the signing of the protocols, marking the United States as the 23rd NATO member. The move followed the Senate’s ratification of Finland and Sweden’s membership, with Vice President Kamala Harris in attendance at the White House ceremony.
Application not approved by seven of thirty countries
Ahead of the ceremony, Biden spoke with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson.
Finland and Sweden had decided to apply to join NATO less than three months earlier, and the leaders emphasized the United States had ratified the treaty. They stressed stronger cooperation and a shared focus on Ukraine’s future stability, as noted in their official statements.
The discussions covered the Nordic members’ evolving roles within the alliance and the ongoing need to support Ukraine amid ongoing conflict.
Last week the US Senate backed the ratification of NATO membership for Finland and Sweden with broad support. The vote underscored a swift assessment of enlargement measures, described as the fastest in decades by some observers.
According to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, several alliance members are nearing completion of their national procedures for ratification. He called this the fastest accession process in NATO history. The formal accession will proceed when parliaments of all member states have ratified the protocols. At present, seven of thirty members have approved them: Spain, Greece, Portugal, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Turkey.
Turkey’s position remains pivotal
Ankara has paused on ratification while it reviews Turkey’s outstanding concerns. The Nordic states are expected to meet certain counterterrorism commitments as part of the discussions.
Turkish officials have indicated that a positive decision would require clear assurances from Sweden and Finland. They cited ongoing extradition requests tied to terrorism as a sticking point and emphasized that NATO membership for these nations depends on keeping promises made during negotiations.
A statement from Turkish authorities at the Madrid alliance summit noted that Turkey’s stance would reflect its security priorities and its evaluation of the Nordic countries’ cooperation, including cooperation against banned organizations alleged to operate on their streets. The official position was that Turkey would not approve membership until commitments are fulfilled.
During the Madrid summit on June 28, the foreign ministers of Turkey, Sweden, and Finland signed a memorandum of understanding that cleared the path for talks to join the bloc. The accord focuses on cooperation in the fight against terrorism and on addressing concerns tied to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and related groups, aiming to smooth the transition toward NATO integration.
End of neutrality
Sweden has long pursued neutrality since 1815, while Finland adopted a similar nonalignment stance after World War II. Despite public opinion in Finland historically skeptical of membership, recent years have seen renewed discussion driven by regional security tensions with Russia.
Early in 2022, NATO officials indicated that Finland and Sweden could join swiftly if they applied, given their strong defense structures and governance. On May 18, Helsinki and Stockholm both lodged formal applications to join NATO, noting that shifting security conditions and Russia’s actions in Ukraine were key factors driving reconsideration.
Russian officials reacted by predicting a deterioration of security in the Baltic region and warned of symmetrical responses should NATO expand eastward. The conversation around three allied capitals highlighted deep regional implications and a broad reassessment of Europe’s security architecture.