US Senate approves Sweden, Finland's NATO membership

The US Senate favored Finland and Sweden on their proposal to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The Senate saw unanimous approval from Democrats and Republicans with a 95-1 vote. The Senators termed the expansion a "slam dunk" for the country’s national security. They also gave a fitting reply to Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Before the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Finland and Sweden avoided military alliances. However, with the latest war, the countries took an essential step in joining NATO and a 74-year-old pact for mutual defense between the US and its European allies.

Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, asked the ambassadors of Finland and Sweden to attend the voting. Even the US President, Joe Biden, wanted Finland and Sweden’s quick entry to NATO. Biden has been a primary player in rallying material and economic support globally for war-torn Ukraine. In his statement on Wednesday, 3rd August 2022, Biden remarked that the historic and unanimous vote shows the country’s bipartisan commitment to NATO. It also ensured the country and its allies’ readiness to meet present and future challenges.


Biden expressed eagerness to sign the accession papers so that both nations could join NATO without delay. Calling the countries strong democracies with capable military forces, Biden welcomed them into the NATO Alliance.

Currently, all 30 member nations have to approve a new country joining the NATO Alliance. Finland and Sweden applied for membership around three months back, after which they have gained ratifications from more than half the member nations. In the US, Senators usually vote in a skewed manner when it comes to NATO membership. However, the new unanimous vote shows the country’s changed foreign policy, especially in the wake of the Ukraine War.

Besides approving the two countries’ membership, the Senate also approved an amendment that calls for NATO members to spend a minimum of 2% of their GDP (Gross Domestic Product) on defense and 20% of the defense budget on necessary equipment and R & D.

Each European member of NATO is required to approve another nation joining. If Turkey still objects, membership might become a problem for both countries even after availing of US support. In the case of Finland and Sweden, Turkey created a roadblock calling the countries soft on the Turkish Kurdish exiles who are banned.