Urging the U.S. Congress to approve… “When we need NATO more than ever”
Finland’s president says he will discuss security concerns with Turkey
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(Washington = Yonhap News) Correspondent Lee Sang-heon = US President Joe Biden said on the 19th (local time) that Finland and Sweden applied for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a security community in North America and Europe. It reaffirmed its strong support for NATO, saying it meets all requirements for joining NATO.
In a joint speech following a three-way summit with Finnish President Sauli Ninistö and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson at the White House on the morning of the same day, President Biden referred to the day these countries applied for NATO membership as an “important day”. did.
“I am proud to express strong support for these two great democracies and close and most capable partners in their application to join NATO, the strongest defensive alliance in history,” Biden said.
“There is no doubt that NATO is important, effective and needed now more than ever,” he said.
Sweden and Finland are already one of our closest partners on a variety of issues,” he said.
“Both countries are already coordinating and working with the United States and other allies and partners to support Ukraine in defending its freedom once morest a Russian invasion,” he added.
President Biden said the two countries met all requirements for NATO accession, and that the U.S. government is submitting a report to Congress on their accession to NATO.
He urged the Senate to approve it as soon as possible, saying he is submitting a report to the Senate to expedite the US approval process for the two countries’ membership in NATO.
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Finnish President Niinistö said in a speech that he hoped that “Finland would be a strong NATO ally” and that he hoped NATO countries would quickly approve it.
In particular, in relation to NATO member Turkey’s opposition to Finland and Sweden’s accession, he said, “We have always maintained a good bilateral relationship with Turkey. ” said.
“We condemn and are actively involved in the fight once morest terrorism in all its forms,” he said in a statement. there is,” he said.
Turkey opposes these countries’ membership in NATO, arguing that Finland and Sweden are supporting the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK), a Kurdish armed group that is running a separatist movement within the country. New membership of NATO requires unanimous approval of the 30 member states.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Andersson said in a speech that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted him to apply for NATO membership.
“We are currently increasing our defense spending and are ready to assume responsibility as a NATO alliance,” he said.
Meanwhile, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in an in-flight briefing on President Biden’s trip to South Korea, “The Biden administration is prepared to deter and respond to any attack resulting from Finland and Sweden joining NATO.” .
Regarding Turkey’s opposition to these countries’ membership in NATO, Sullivan said that “Turkey’s concerns might be resolved,” but “there are no plans to directly engage in the matter at this time.”
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2022/05/20 06:25 Send
