NATO allies sign Finnish and Swedish accession protocols

London— 30 NATO ambassadors on Tuesday withSweden Signed Finland's Membership ProtocolJoin the Transatlantic Military Alliance. This was the next step in NATO's most important expansion process since the mid-1990s, and was a direct response by the alliance to the Russian Ukrainian War. The 

protocol must be ratified by the legislatures of each Allied government before the two Scandinavian countries become official members, but the group's Secretary-General Jensstrutenberg said. , Called it "a truly historic moment for Finland and for Sweden". And for NATO.

"32 countries around the table, we will be even stronger," he said. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out NATO's expansion to the east in Europe as one of the main factors that ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February. However, when Finland and Sweden become full-fledged members, two more NATO countries will be located on or near the Russian border. 

Made by Russia 1 Before the invasion of the two demands, Ukraine had promised to never participate in NATO, partly due to Moscow's concerns about the proximity of NATO members.

"Sweden and Finland don't have the same problems as Ukraine. They want to join NATO. Please," Putin said. .. Last week's Russian state television. But he added a warning. "If military delegations and infrastructure were deployed there, we would have to respond in-kind and create the same threat to the areas where the threat to us was created."

NATO candidates must receive the blessings of all existing member states. Turkey initially said it would block the participation of Finland and Sweden unless the Turkish opposition members of European countries were handed over to Ankara. Turkey signed an agreement with the Nordic countries at the NATO summit last week, andwithdrew the threat, but if they still felt they did not provide their accession The end of the bargain that warned that it could prevent.

Stoltenberg said on Tuesday that he hopes ratification will proceed.

"There were security concerns that needed to be addressed and I did what I always do with NATO. I found something in common," he said.

Due to the unique legislative procedures of each country in the alliance, it may still take several months for Sweden and Finland to become official NATO members. However, representatives from both countries will be able to attend NATO meetings without voting rights, improving access to intelligence.

Prior to ratification, it was not protected by the NATO Alliance's Mutual Defense Clause, but an attack on one is considered to be an attack on all. So far, that clause (Article 5 of the NATO Charter) called on allies to help overthrow the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which allowed al-Qaeda to attack on September 11, 2001. Called only once.

"When faced with the greatest security crisis in decades, we will be stronger and people will be safer," Stoltenberg said on Tuesday.

In:
• War
• Finland
• Ukraine
• Russia
• Sweden
• NATO