Senate approves Sweden, Finland bid to join NATO | USA TODAY

The U.S. Senate passed a resolution approving Finland and Sweden's request to join NATO in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

RELATED: Finland prepares for a possible Russian attack, wants to join NATO

The bipartisan show of support for Finland and Sweden's accession to NATO is a direct response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, an act of aggression that has alarmed U.S. and European officials. The vote was 95-1.

Finland and Sweden's bid to join NATO will need to win approval from all other NATO countries, a process that could take months and that, when completed, would grant Article Five protection to the two historically neutral countries.

In the meantime, the countries are considered NATO partners and have been participating in military exercises with the U.S. and other NATO nations.

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43 comments

    1. @Joe Burns Yet Finland’s and Sweden’s defence budgets are above the NATO requirement 🤔 You contradict yourself. If you don’t like how other member states have “puny” spending, you should be excited about the prospect of members joining that spend 2% on their militaries…

    2. @Rappa KaljaDid a Google scan and found Norway at 1.9% and Sweden at 1.4% for 2020. Meaning any increase is a strategy to get into NATO. Once accomplished and the Ukraine situation is over (very soon), both countries will cut defense spending.

    3. @Joe Burns Norway is a founding member of NATO (1949). Sweden is increasing its military spending because of Russia, not because of joining NATO. Sweden was stupid and stopped conscription, Finland has all the time had mandatory military service for all men.

    4. @Londo A I stand corrected on Norway, you’re right, thanks, they are a present member. But unfortunately they are <2% in contribution. For these days as authoritarian governments are on the move, should be way over 2% GDP on defense.

  1. Hi ill informed can Holly be? Oh wait, it’s just politics consistently with Holly. No moral standing. No informed opinion. Ugh🤦‍♀️

    1. The same allies in the West that have no arms or significant militaries? Try using your brain for once.

    2. @Zilfversurfer Rofl they do? That’d be a first. The US usually goes in alone then has to beg for backup.

  2. Hawley is so ignorant, he doesn’t even know that Russia is also in Asia. In fact, mostly in Asia.

    1. @The King’s Daughter turkeys population is much higher, they’re MUCH more spread out. Russian fertility rates are also really low

    2. @Thilli yes and no, in absolute numbers half is not the most, but considering the european part is only 20% of the entire country and the center of power and administration is in there, plus the said half of population, making this area more political, demographical and millitary important

    1. @Rappa Kalja Yes, bingo! But no bot, I’m actually a real person who was in the army, two tours to Germany, and know the true EU politics and wants/needs.

    2. @Thilli Not sure what goods and services the EU has that the US vitally needs. Gas prices reflect the green energy movement and lack of interest in drilling/refining.

    3. @Joe Burns are you serious? In 2020, the U.S’s largest export from the EU machinery ($64.9 billion), pharmaceutical products ($55.2 billion) and vehicles ($54.6 billion). Although the product categories clearly overlap, there are important differences in the types of pharmaceuticals and machinery that are sold in each market.

    1. @Steve Pest How is it bullshit? 😂 Look into the militaries of both Sweden and Finland before you comment on the issue.

  3. Many thanks to our US bros from Finland! And no worries, everyone here agrees that after we’ve entered NATO we shall not drop our own guard – we’ll keep watching that border like always and maintain capability for repelling our nutcase neighbor on our own. Time for democracies to stand united!

  4. US people seems like they dont know.. Putin have sayd Finalnd and Sweden can join where ever they want. So its sound little bit dramatic when somenones talk about ww3.. Nah..

    1. I’m From Sweden he has made a lot of threats before and after those famous lies he spoke he went absolutely bananas when he realized that all naval trade shipping is cut to Sankt Petersburg and Kaliningrad all agreement’s is broken (By Russia ) and empty threats about cutting gas to our nations :(We import less then 1% gas we have Norway a country who supplies over 60% of Europe. We also supplies a lot of supplies to Ukraine freedom war . So you shouldn’t believe a word he says . Combined Finland and Sweden opens up a new angle of attack into Russia a border largely unprotected about 30 000 soldier by Russia badly supplied and under equipped. Our nations have 1.3 million troops Total combined and 225 000 is fast response troops that can be deployed within 24 h we also have one of Europe’s strongest air forces over 300 modern fighter planes so strategically it means that Russia no longer has offensive capability to achieve the famous Fulda Gap offensive If they try the risk being surrounded is rather big because they don’t have the manpower to both defend and attack on separate fronts .In the Baltic theater its even more severe for Russia the entire Kola peninsula is now open for NATO troops ( Not likely because of the military strength in the region have shifted so largely against Russia). Kaliningrad can no longer be effectively defended cant supply and reinforce the region,( most likely naval assets will be moved to strengthen different theaters ) Murmansk is no longer a safe port for naval military assets . most likely they build a defensive barrier from Sankt Petersburg and the sea of Ladoga because it will be very important to stop NATO troops that otherwise risk coming up behind Russian advancing troops in said famous gap thus risk cutting them of from supplies.
      Of course Russia has nuclear weapons but so has NATO also. the only difference is they now can be fired much closer to Russia because he moved weapons to Kaliningrad (Several years ago) So hopefully the risk of war Diminish now that perhaps finally Russia understands that further advancement in the Baltic is impossible.
      Russia has made several threats to make Gotland his unsinkable aircraft carrier Gotland is a island of High strategic value ( makes every ship in range for missiles )
      Hopefully that explained a little more essentially is NATO got a boast and got strategically stronger, Russia Lost tremendously without a single shot fired.

  5. Oohhh SNAP….Josh Hawley…SUCCESSFULLY….humiliating himself in the Senate.
    Kudos Josh…GOOD JOB !.

  6. Well bless your pea Picken heart Mr Hawley I bet your momma’s so proud of you. You dog you.🤪

  7. Thank God we have USA firepower against Russia this time unlike 80 years ago when we were alone against Soviet Union and Stalin.

  8. I hope that NATO membership will stop the Russians mess around in Finland because this it has cost a lot . Ukrainians peoples are very welcome to Finland! 👍

  9. The widespread backwardness of our economy, increments in the price of gas,and rate of unemployment is becoming inconducive. it’s obvious we are headed for hyperinflation, unfortunately having a job doesn’t mean been safe rather having multiple income streams that doesn’t depend on the government would be a great decision

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