May 1, 2022- 11:37 a.m.
U.S. Will “Strongly Support” NATO Membership for Finland, Sweden
The U.S. will welcome Helsinki and Stockholm into the NATO alliance with open arms, Washington’s top diplomat told lawmakers.
Russia has warned of steep consequences should the Western military bloc further expand to 32 members.
During a House committee hearing on Thursday (April 28), Secretary of State Antony Blinken said both Finland and Sweden have a “very strong interest” to join NATO in light of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, noting that Washington would adhere to the alliance’s ‘open-door’ policy for new members.
“We, of course, look to them to make that decision. If that’s what they decide, we will strongly support it,” he said.
Though Blinken could give no timeline for when the two Nordic states might join, he said the subject is “under very active consideration by both countries” and that a formal decision could be made ahead of a NATO summit planned for Madrid this summer.
Stockholm appears prepared to move forward with a membership application, with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson declaring on Friday that the government would not hold a referendum on the issue.
