Sweden and Finland approved to join NATO by US Senate

Highlights:

• The US Senate favored Finland and Sweden on their proposal to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
• The Senate saw unanimous approval from Democrats and Republicans with a 95-1 vote.
• The Senators termed the expansion a "slam dunk" for the country’s national security.
• They also gave a fitting reply to Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
• Before the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Finland and Sweden avoided military alliances.
• Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri cast the lone dissenting vote, contending that the threat posed by China should receive considerably more attention than European security.
• Finland and Sweden’s membership in NATO has the strong support of US President Joe Biden, who in July forwarded the issue to the Senate for consideration.
• Currently, all 30 member nations have to approve a new country joining the NATO Alliance.
• Each European member of NATO is required to approve another nation joining.
• It is noted that ,present NATO Chairman: Jens Stoltenberg