(CNN) — NATO formally invited Sweden and Finland to join the military alliance, according to a statement by NATO Heads of State and Government on Wednesday. This is a historic expansion of the defense bloc that directly undermines the goals of Russian President Vladimir Putin in his war in Ukraine.
“Today we have decided to invite Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO, and have agreed to sign the Protocols of Accession,” the statement said.
The group decided to collectively approve countries’ membership applications after Turkey withdrew its objections on Tuesday, paving the way for NATO’s biggest enlargement in decades.
“The accession of Finland and Sweden will make them safer, NATO stronger and the Euro-Atlantic area more secure. The security of Finland and Sweden is of direct importance to the Alliance, including during the accession process,” the statement says.
The decision will now go to the parliaments and legislatures of the 30 member states for final ratification. NATO leaders said they hoped the process would move quickly, allowing unprecedented accession and a show of unity against Putin.
The leaders came to the talks on Wednesday buoyed by a diplomatic victory after Turkey withdrew its objections to the two nations joining NATO, paving the way for the two longtime neutrals to enter the defensive block.
The vote on enlargement, along with substantial new commitments strengthening the position of NATO forces in Europe, have combined to make this week’s summit in Madrid one of the most productive in recent times. The result is exactly what Putin hoped to avoid when he invaded Ukraine more than four months ago.
“I have said that Putin is seeking the Finnishization of Europe. He is going to achieve the NATOization of Europe. And that is exactly what he did not want, but exactly what needs to be done to ensure the security of Europe. And I think it is necessary.” US President Joe Biden said upon his arrival at the summit venue in Madrid.
Finland and Sweden submitted their NATO membership applications in May amid tensions over Russia’s war in Ukraine. From that moment on, they added adhesions from practically all the members of the military alliance.
The only country that raised any kind of objection was Turkey. But on Tuesday, the country confirmed that it had signed a trilateral memorandum with Finland and Sweden supporting their NATO membership bids, agreeing that Helsinki and Stockholm will not provide support to the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, also known as YPG, which Turkey considers a terrorist organization, according to the Turkish presidency.
Biden announces reinforcement of NATO forces
Biden and fellow NATO leaders met in the Spanish capital to announce a major reinforcement of forces on the alliance’s eastern flank, at a time when Russia’s war in Ukraine shows no signs of abating.
In his speech with the NATO Secretary General, Biden listed the new troop movements, shipments of equipment and military installations that seek to demonstrate the importance of security against Moscow’s aggression.
“America and our allies, we’re going to step up… we’re stepping up. We’re showing that NATO is needed more now than ever and is as important as ever,” Biden said.
He said the US would establish a permanent 5th Army Corps headquarters in Poland, maintain an additional 3,000-strong rotational brigade in Romania, increase rotational deployments to the Baltic States, send two more squadrons of fighter jets F-35s to the UK and would place additional air defense and other capabilities in Germany and Italy.
“Together with our allies, we are going to make sure that NATO is prepared to deal with threats coming from all directions, in all arenas: land, air and sea,” Biden said.
The United States did not inform Russia of its plans to strengthen its force position in Europe in advance.
“There has been no communication with Moscow about these changes, nor is there an obligation to do so,” said John Kirby, the NSC’s coordinator for strategic communications, after Biden announced the series of measures.
A second official told reporters that the announcements did not violate any agreement between Russia and NATO, which stipulates the parameters for the positioning of troops in Europe.
“The decision to permanently station the Five Corps Headquarters forward command post is not, you know, consistent with that commitment and with our understanding of the founding act of NATO for Russia,” said Celeste Wallander, deputy secretary of defense. of the United States for International Affairs.