US President Joe Biden initialed on Tuesday August 9 the United States' ratification of Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership, an expansion of the Alliance in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The two Nordic countries will be "
strong, reliable and capable allies
" in joining the US-dominated military alliance, President Biden said during a signing ceremony at the White House.
The US Senate ratified last week by a very large majority the two accession protocols of Finland and Sweden to the Atlantic Alliance.
All NATO member countries must ratify these protocols before the membership of the two countries is effective.
Read also NATO: which countries have already ratified the candidacy of Sweden and Finland?
"Strong democratic institutions"
Joe Biden has made the restoration of transatlantic relations, mistreated by his predecessor Donald Trump, a priority of his foreign policy.
NATO is part of the “
foundations of security
” of the United States, he noted on Tuesday.
He also praised the fact that these two countries have "
strong democratic institutions
" and solid armies that will strengthen NATO.
According to a statement from the White House, President Biden telephoned his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinistö and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson on Tuesday, congratulating them on this "
step closer
" to joining NATO.
To date, 23 member countries have ratified the accession protocols out of the 30 required.
The main obstacle is Turkey, which criticizes Helsinki and especially Stockholm for their alleged benevolence towards the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Ankara considers a terrorist organization.
By invading Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin "
broken peace and security in Europe
", said Joe Biden.
“
Putin thought we were dividing (...).
On the contrary, he harvested what he did not want
, ”he concluded.
