NATO officially invited Sweden and Finland to join its military alliance on Wednesday, a day after Turkey dropped its reservations over having the Nordic countries join the defense bloc.
“It demonstrates that President Putin has not succeeded in closing NATO’s door,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said during the NATO summit in Madrid. “He is getting the opposite of what he wants. He wants less NATO; President Putin is getting more NATO by Finland and Sweden joining our Alliance.”
“We’re sending an unmistakable message, in my view — and I think yours as well — that NATO is strong, united and the steps we’re taking during this summit are going to further augment our collective strength,” President Biden concurred.
The invitation was immediately slammed by Russia, with one Kremlin official saying it was “a purely destabilizing factor,” according to CNBC.
The development comes against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, which has shifted Sweden’s and Finland’s attitudes about joining the military alliance. The two Nordic countries submitted their applications to join NATO last month.
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JUST IN: NATO invites Finland, Sweden to join alliance https://t.co/5Y9Ke6YYq9 pic.twitter.com/ktO2i51Oa8
— The Hill (@thehill) June 29, 2022
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: "I'm pleased to announce that we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. Turkey, Finland and Sweden have signed a memorandum that addresses Turkey's concerns." https://t.co/nBqHvl6rxQ pic.twitter.com/LyVPJwScJA
— The Hill (@thehill) June 29, 2022
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: "Today, NATO leaders took the historic decision to invite Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO. The agreement, concluded last night by Turkey, Finland and Sweden, paved the way for this decision." https://t.co/J6v2bXV8fT pic.twitter.com/Vv05n8QvpQ
— The Hill (@thehill) June 29, 2022
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