US ‘strongly supports’ Nordics entry to Nato alliance

Washington, May 19 (EFE).- The United States strongly supports the admission of Sweden and Finland to the Nato military alliance and their entry will make the alliance stronger, president Joe Bien said on Thursday.

“It’s a very, very great day. I’m proud to welcome and offer the strong support of the United States for the applications of two great democracies, and two close, highly capable partners, to join the strongest, most powerful defensive alliance in the history of the world,” Biden said following a meeting with his Finnish and Swedish counterparts in Washington.

Biden said the countries had the “full, total complete backing” of the US and that their entry to Nato would make the alliance stronger.

“The bottom line is simple. Finland and Sweden make Nato stronger.

“New members joining Nato is not a threat to any nation. It never has been. Nato’s purpose is to defend against aggression,” the president said.

Finland and Sweden formally applied to join Nato on Wednesday ending decades of neutrality.

The Nordic countries have decided to apply to the military alliance over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has shifted public opinion in the region.

Shortly after applying to Nato on Wednesday, Turkey blocked a move to fast-track Sweden and Finland’s application.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would vote against the Nordic countries entry to Nato over their alleged support for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group it considers a terrorist organization, and followers of Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara accuses of orchestrating a 2016 coup attempt.

Finnish president Sauli Niinistö and Swedish prime minister Magdalena Andersson said on Thursday that they were open to addressing any concerns Turkey may have over their entry to Nato.

“We are open to discussing all the concerns Turkey may have regarding our membership to Nato in an open and constructive manner,” Niinistö said. EFE

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