Historic moment: Finland and Sweden formally apply for NATO membership

Finland and Sweden formally submitted their application for NATO membership this morning. The accession process is expected to take only a few weeks, according to Reuters.

According to diplomats, the ratification process, which will have to go through the parliaments of all members of the Alliance, could take up to a year.

“This is a historic moment in a critical period for our security“, Said the Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg who accepted the requests made to him by the ambassadors of Finland and Sweden.

“We hope to complete the process quickly,” he added.

Consultations have already begun between NATO member states in order to remove Turkey’s objections.

«In Sweden and Finland we also agree to go hand in hand “Through this whole process and we will submit the application together tomorrow”, stressed yesterday the Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Anderson.

On Thursday (19/5), Swedish Prime Minister and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto are expected to meet with Joe Biden at the White House to discuss their decision to join the North Atlantic Alliance.

Yesterday, its parliament Φινλανδίας signed the application form to become a member NATOas the government of the country considers that it should abandon the regime of neutrality, after the start of the war in Ukraine.

For its part, Moscow, through the representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, proceeded to an enigmatic statement following the decision by Finland and Russia to join NATO.

Speaking on Solovyov Live, Maria Zakharova said: “Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO loosens Russia’s hands. “Let the West keep that in mind.”

Among other things, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said: “Today, under pressure from Washington, Finland and Sweden, which for decades have been neutral on international issues and have not participated in any military bloc, are being forced to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. “change the strategic direction of their policy,” he stressed.

Source: News Beast

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