Helsinki 16 July 2022 (TDI): NATO members are ratifying the accession protocol for Finland and Sweden. Till now, fifteen countries have ratified the accession protocol, which is to be approved by all the thirty member countries unanimously.
The countries that ratified the accession protocol include Germany, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Bulgaria, and Slovenia. Furthermore, Iceland, the United Kingdom, Albania, Latvia, Croatia, and Poland also have ratified. Canada became the first country to ratify.
“The ratification of Finland’s accession protocols is progressing smoothly.” Embassy of Finland in Washington tweeted.
Background:
Member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization signed off an accession protocol for the Nordic Countries to join NATO.
NATO Ambassadors signed this protocol at NATO headquarters on 5th July 2022. The Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde were also present. This move came after Turkiye lifted its veto against including these countries in NATO.
US Secretary of State called it a historic day for transatlantic security.
“NATO doors remain open and we are stronger together,” he tweeted.
The Secretary-General of NATO said that NATO’s door remains open to European democracies who are ready and willing to contribute to our shared security: “With 32 nations around the table, we will be even stronger and our people will be even safer, as we face the biggest security crisis in decades.”
An historic day for Euro-Atlantic security as all 30 #NATO Allies sign the Accession Protocols for #Finland & #Sweden. With 32 nations around the table, we will be stronger and safer, as we face a more dangerous world. pic.twitter.com/Mu0jjK9IuF
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) July 5, 2022
Madrid Summit
At the Madrid Summit, Allied leaders agreed to invite Finland and Sweden to join NATO. This came after a trilateral memorandum between Türkiye, Finland, and Sweden. The formal process has started, and fifteen countries have ratified the accession protocol.
