The President of the United States, Joe Biden, congratulated Sweden on the country’s entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) this Thursday (7).
With that, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson formally handed over membership documents to the US State Department in Washington, DC, the final step in a months-long process to gain approval from all members.
“Today, I am honored to welcome Sweden as NATO’s 32nd Ally. 75 years ago – when the United States and 11 other nations joined together to establish the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – President Truman said the Alliance would “create a shield against aggression and the fear of aggression.” Today, that shield – and transatlantic security – is stronger than ever with Sweden’s formal membership in NATO,” Biden said in a statement.
Furthermore, the American president also stated that Vladimir Putin thought he could split the Alliance when he invaded Ukraine in 2022, but said that the entry of Sweden and Finland shows that NATO is more united and determined than ever.
Biden went on to say: “We reaffirm once again that our shared democratic values – and our willingness to defend them – are what make NATO the greatest military alliance in the history of the world. It is what attracts nations to our cause”.
“It is what sustains our unity. And together with our newest ally, Sweden, NATO will continue to defend freedom and democracy for generations to come. I look forward to welcoming all 32 Allies to NATO’s 75th Anniversary Summit in Washington D.C.”
