Biden supported Sweden and Finland for Nato. He said that they have the full, total, and complete backing of the US. The support is for their decision to apply for Nato membership.
Both countries submitted their applications to be part of the Western defense alliance. This marked a major shift in European geopolitics.
The two nations need the support of all 30 Nato member states to join the alliance. The move by the Nordic nations was opposed by Turkey.
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto spoke at the White House. Mr. Biden also called Sweden and Finland’s applications a watershed moment in European security.
He said that new members joining Nato is not a threat to any nation. The president also added that having two new members in the high north would enhance the security of our allies. It will also deepen our security co-operation across the board.
Russia repeatedly said that it sees Nato as a threat. It even warned of consequences if the block proceeds with its expansion plans.
Turkey accused both Sweden and Finland of hosting suspected militants from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). This is a group which viewed as a terrorist organization.
Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and British Defense Minister Ben Wallace expressed confidence. They said that these concerns would eventually get addressed.
Mr. Biden’s comments also came up as the US Senate voted to approve a new $40bn (£32bn) bill. This was to provide military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell dismissed these concerns. Instead, he told reporters that Congress has a moral responsibility to support a sovereign democracy’s self-defense.
Mr. McConnell also said, “Anyone concerned about the cost of supporting a Ukrainian victory should consider the much higher cost Ukraine should lose.”
However, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the aid package as a significant US contribution to the restoration of peace and security in Ukraine.
Credits: BBC
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