Lithuania ratifies Sweden, Finland’s Nato membership

Riga, Jul 20 (EFE).- The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, on Wednesday ratified Sweden and Finland’s membership to Nato.

Sweden’s accession received 112 votes in favor and 1 against while Finland’s was backed unanimously.

Lithuania is the last out of the three Baltic states to ratify the Nordic countries’ accession to the Alliance after Estonia, who voted on July 6, and Latvia on July 14.

The three Baltic countries have said that Sweden and Finland’s membership will strengthen regional security, especially with regard to the so-called Suwalki corridor, which runs between the Lithuanian and Polish borders and connects the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad with Belarus.

The corridor could be cut off in the event of a Russian attack on the Baltic countries and is the only land communication route for hypothetical Nato reinforcements.

Once Sweden and Finland are members of the alliance, Nato forces would have alternative sea and air corridors to assist their Baltic neighbors.

Sweden and Finland’s accessions have been prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ending their decades-long neutral stances. EFE

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