President Biden formally endorsed Finland and Sweden’s applications to join NATO on Wednesday, and warned Russia carefully that the United States would help protect the countries in the interim before they return. Alliance members are committed to “an attack on one as well as an attack on all. “
“While their applications to NATO are being reviewed,” Biden said, “the United States will work with Finland and Sweden to remain vigilant against any threat to our common security.” our own and to prevent and confront aggression or threat of aggression.”
Mr. Biden’s pledge is not much different from a treaty, or even an executive agreement pledging the United States to support both countries. Instead, it is the equivalent of what in the national security world is known as a “policy statement”—a statement of intent by the President.
There are other examples of such policies: For example, several presidents have vowed – through similar statements – to make North Korea pay if caught exporting nuclear fuel to a foreign country. foreign powers.
Finland and Sweden formally offered to join the military alliance earlier on Wednesday, but they need the backing of all 30 countries in the group, a process that could require diplomatic negotiations. Late on Wednesday, Turkey blocked the coalition’s initial attempt to expedite its applications, according to a senior diplomat.
Mr. Biden timed the statement ahead of Thursday’s White House visits by Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson of Sweden and President Sauli Niinisto of Finland. But the declaration was negotiated by US defense officials a few weeks ago as they worked with the countries on their path to becoming the 31st and 32nd members of NATO.
If Sweden and Finland are accepted as part of the alliance, it will expand NATO at a time when Russian President Putin has vowed to push the bloc beyond his country’s borders and limit the spread of NATO. extend to the east of this block. Finland shares an 830-mile border with Russia.
Jake Sullivan, the president’s national security adviser, told reporters on Wednesday that “we will not tolerate any act of aggression against Finland or Sweden during this process.” .
But he offered some specifics, saying that “those are ongoing conversations at an operational and technical level between our Department of Defense and their respective defense departments, as well as with other NATO allies and partners”.
