Biden formalizes U.S. support for Finland, Sweden joining NATO

U.S. President Joe Biden formally welcomed Finland and Sweden joining the NATO alliance Tuesday as he signed the instruments of ratification that delivered the U.S.'s formal backing of the Nordic nations entering the mutual defence pact, part of a reshaping of the European security posture after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

“In seeking to join NATO, Finland and Sweden are making a sacred commitment that an attack against one is an attack against all,” Biden said at the signing as he called the partnership the “indispensable alliance.”

The U.S. became the 23rd ally to approve NATO membership for the two countries. Biden said he spoke with the heads of both nations before signing the ratification and urged the remaining NATO members to finish their own ratification process “as quickly as possible.”

The countries sought out NATO membership earlier this year to guarantee their security in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization's rules require the consent of all of its 30 existing members before Finland and Sweden can officially accede into the alliance, which is expected in the coming months.

The candidacies of the two prosperous Northern European nations have won ratification from more than half of the NATO member nations in the roughly three months since the two applied. It marks one of the speediest expansions of the pact of mutual defence among the United States and democratic allies in Europe in its 73year history.

U.S. State and Defence officials consider the two countries net “security providers,” strengthening NATO's defence posture in the Baltics in particular.