NATO nations sign accession protocols for Sweden, Finland

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By RAF CASERT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The 30 NATO allies signed off on the accession protocols for Sweden and Finland on Tuesday, sending the membership bids of the two nations to the alliance capitals for legislative approvals — and possible political trouble in Turkey.

The move further increases Russia’s strategic isolation in the wake of its invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February and military struggles there since.

“This is truly a historic moment for Finland, for Sweden and for NATO,” said alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

The 30 ambassadors and permanent representatives formally approved the decisions of last week’s NATO summit when the alliance made the historic decision to invite Russia’s neighbor Finland and Scandinavian partner Sweden to join the military club.



Finland's Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, left, Sweden's Foreign Minister Ann Linde, right, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attend a media conference after the signature of the NATO Accession Protocols for Finland and Sweden in the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Tuesday, July 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-nato-turkey-sweden-169a0386e3f6016da0b519b265645575

[BumRushDaShow]

1. Here was the Senate Foreign Relations Committee opening hearing on this a couple weeks ago

This is the precursor to an eventual treaty (change/update) ratification by the U.S.

Copies of the witness testimony (along with the Committee's video) can be found here - https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/nato-expansion-examining-the-proposed-accession-of-sweden-and-finland

[Lovie777]

2. Turkey again . . ....

I would think Hungrey as well since they are RWers.

[DFW]

3. Only an event of overwhelming aggressivesness and brutality could have brought this on

Sweden and Finland were firmly decided to remain neutral forever. At least one Russian submarine has run aground scouting out Sweden's coastline. The Russians initiated a brutal invasion of Finland 82 years ago, only a few decades after gaining independence from Metternich's 1815 arbitrary handing of the country to the tsars. And STILL both Sweden and Finland preferred to remain neutral, figuring their foreign policy would be independent enough to convince first the Soviet socialists, and then Putin's autocrats, that they would never need to fear anything but non-combatant status from either country.

A non-aggressive Ukraine suffering demolished cities and thousands of civilians kidnapped and murdered--now THAT was behavior that even the majority pacifist forces on both countries could no longer ignore. Putin brought this upon himself.

[FakeNoose]

4. I'm glad they finally saw the light

Soon Russia will be completely isolated on its European side.

Welcome to the Good Guys, Finland and Sweden!

[iluvtennis]

5. Great news!

[IronLionZion]

6. Putin can enjoy a nice big border with NATO Finland

and some day Georgia and Ukraine.

[onetexan]

7. right, what is the status of the Ukraine for Nato now?

[Gore1FL]

9. A long way off, if ever.

Unless the rules change, the best they are going to be able to be for a while is a NATO partner.

[cstanleytech]

8. If the nations of the world want to really pressure Russia

they will need to enact much harsher penalties on Russia.
Such as recalling and closing all embassies in Russia as well as all citizens and then expelling all Russian embassies.
Following that there needs to be a total ban on trade to Russia other than medical supplies.
Of course Russia will try to circumvent the trade ban via another country but that could dealt with by putting a rather harsh tariffs on such countries.

[Raine]

10. Good! 👍 nt