NATO allies signed an accession protocol for Finland and Sweden on Tuesday, allowing them to join the alliance once parliaments ratify the decision, the most significant expansion of the alliance since the 1990s.
The signing at NATO headquarters follows a deal with Turkey at last week’s NATO summit in Madrid, where the country lifted its veto on the Nordic nations’ membership proposals after reassuring that both countries would do more to help to fight terrorism.
“This is really a historic moment,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg alongside the foreign ministers of both countries. “With 32 nations at the table, we will be even stronger.”
The protocol means Finland and Sweden attend NATO meetings and have better access to intelligence information, but they are not protected by NATO’s Defense Clause, a guarantee that has been in place since the organization’s inception that an attack on an ally is an attack everyone is against them.
The decision still has to be ratified by the member countries. It is estimated that this process will take up to a year.
2 of 2 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in conversation with representatives from Finland and Sweden — Photo: Yves Herman/R
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg talks to representatives from Finland and Sweden — Photo: Yves Herman/R
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine would have, among other things, the rapprochement of Kiev with the West and mainly with NATO. Shortly after the attacks began, Moscow repeatedly warned the two countries against joining NATO, since Finland also shares a border with Russia.
On March 12, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said that if it joined, “serious military and political consequences will follow.”
Stoltenberg urged the allies to ratify quickly and, in the meantime, pledged NATO support to the two Nordic countries.
“The security of Finland and Sweden is important to our alliance, including during the ratification process,” he said.
“Many allies have already made clear commitments on the security of Finland and Sweden, and NATO has increased our presence in the region, including through further exercises,” he concluded.