US President Joe Biden declared himself “proud” on Tuesday to welcome Finland to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Western defense bloc), of which the country has just become the 31st member of void.
“When [o Presidente russo, Vladimir] Putin launched his brutal war of aggression against the Ukrainian people, he thought that he could divide Europe and NATO. I made a mistake. Today we are more united than ever,” Biden said in a statement released by the White House.
“I am delighted to welcome Finland as NATO’s 31st ally,” he said, vowing that together they will continue to “defend every inch of territory” of the Atlantic Alliance.
The entry of Finland – whose accession process was the fastest in history, Biden said – implies that the country becomes protected by Article 5 of collective defense of the Washington Treaty, the founding charter of the Western military bloc.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 last year disrupted security in Europe and changed the game, prompting Finland and Sweden to apply, in May 2022, to join NATO’s protective shield.
Moscow considered Finland’s entry an “attack” on its security and promised “countermeasures.”
Joe Biden also said “to be happy to welcome Sweden to NATO as soon as possible”, while also encouraging Turkey and Hungary to “complete their ratification processes without delay”, since the Atlantic Alliance only admits new members unanimously.
Objections from Turkey and Hungary have delayed Finland’s accession to the organization – which has the longest land border with Russia after Ukraine: 1,340 kilometers – for months and continue to block Sweden’s.
These two Nordic countries are “solid democracies, with high military power, which share our values and our vision of the world,” added the tenant of the White House.
Source: TSF
