The United States announces “strong support” for the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO

the president of USAJoe Biden, gives “strong support to the historic candidacies of Finland Y Sweden to integrate the NATO”, according to a statement issued Wednesday by the White House.

Hours after Europe’s two Nordic countries formally submitted their applications to join the transatlantic alliance, President Joe Biden welcomed the request. “I warmly welcome and strongly support the landmark requests,” he said, referring to the two countries as “long-time staunch partners.”

LOOK: Which countries can join NATO and what is the accession process like?

“While their NATO applications are being considered, the United States will work with Finland and Sweden to stay alert for any threats to our common security, and to deter and respond to any aggression or threat of aggression.”

Bidenwho will receive the Swedish Prime Minister at the White House on Thursday, Magdalena Andersonand the Finnish President, Sauli Niinistoindicated in the note that “he hopes to work with the US Congress and with our allies in the NATO to quickly integrate Finland Y Sweden to the strongest defense alliance in history.”

LOOK: What does the decision of Finland and Sweden to request their entry into NATO mean (after their strong defense of neutrality)

These two European countries presented their applications for admission to the NATObut Turkey, which, like all member countries, has the right of veto in the event of expansion of the alliance, refused to open the corresponding accession process.

Turkey has accused the two countries, especially Swedenof harboring members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Ankara considers illegal and designates as a “terrorist” group like some of its Western allies.

LOOK: Putin pronounces on the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO and issues a warning

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in New York on Wednesday to discuss the issue.

The two met “to reaffirm their strong cooperation as NATO partners and allies,” the State Department said in a statement, without mentioning the controversy over Sweden and Finland.

The rest of the members of the Atlantic alliance enthusiastically received both requests for admission.

However, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the Biden administration was “confident” Turkey’s concerns could be addressed and the two countries would join the alliance.

“We feel very good about where this is going”he emphasized.

”comfort level”

Meanwhile, Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist had a meeting Wednesday at the Pentagon with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in which they discussed his eventual joining the NATO and interim security cooperation.

“The secretary made it very clear that we have a comfort level with his military for many years,” spokesman John Kirby said, highlighting the Pentagon’s willingness “to have a discussion with them about the security and capability needs they should have to secure them and deter Russia, if necessary.”

On the subject of Turkey, a major US defense partner, Kirby said they were “still working to clarify” the details of their opposition to Sweden Y Finland enter the NATO.

Historically non-aligned, Sweden and Finland have turned a corner since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has also influenced public opinion previously reluctant to join the NATO.

Source: Elcomercio

Deshawn