Germany: Welcome to NATO Finland and Sweden

THE Finland and the Sweden are welcome to NATOsaid her Foreign Minister Germany, Analena Berbockcommenting on Russian threats on the issue.

“Every country has the right to freely choose its defense alliances”said Ms. Berbock last night during a visit to Niger and stressed that “This is even more true for two European countries, which are already members of the European Union. “If Finland and Sweden decide, then they are very welcome in the defense alliance.”added the German Foreign Minister.

On the same subject, the Greens’ representative for foreign policy in the European Parliament Reinhard Butikofercalled on the federal government to follow the example of determination and “reading” the turning point of this era of the two Nordic countries. “Finland and Sweden are aware of the situation. “The leaders of their governments have vigorously paved the way for their countries’ applications for NATO membership. In Germany, we must learn from this determination.”Mr. Butikofer told the Rheinische Post.

Earlier, the representative of the US State Department, Ned Price, also mentioned the issue of the two countries’ NATO membership. He claimed that the United States has no reason to worry that the expansion of a defense alliance could result in anything other than enhancing security in Europe.

Without mentioning any country in particular, Price said that “We would not worry that the expansion of a defense alliance would cause anything other than enhanced security on the European continent.”.

That was the State Department spokesman’s response to a reporter’s question about whether the United States would be concerned that Russia could escalate the confrontation over Ukraine if Sweden and Finland joined NATO.