U.S. President Joe Biden (center) is heading to the Oval Office with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson (right) and Finnish President Sauli Ninistö (left) who visited their country on the 19th at the White House. Washington = Reuters
US President Joe Biden welcomed Finland and Sweden, who applied to join NATO, and expressed strong support for them.
President Biden delivered a joint speech after holding a trilateral summit with Finnish President Sauli Ninistö and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson at the White House on the morning of the 19th (local time) at the White House. “I am proud to express my support for applying for membership in NATO, the strongest defense alliance in history.” “The two independent countries exercise their national sovereignty to determine national security,” he said. “There is no doubt that NATO is needed now more than ever.
Finland and Sweden, feeling the need for a collective defense system against Russia as security instability in Europe grew after Russia invaded Ukraine, submitted an application to join NATO on the 18th. As a result, Finland has withdrawn its military non-aligned neutrality policy for the first time in 74 years since 1948 and Sweden for the first time in 208 years since 1814. The two countries have been engaged in military training with NATO for many years, and their economic power and technological prowess are among the best in the world.
President Biden also said, “The armed forces of both countries have already stood shoulder to shoulder with US and NATO forces in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. I am doing it,” he exclaimed. He added that “Finland and Sweden both meet the conditions for joining NATO. In order to join NATO, unanimous approval of the 30 member countries is required. President Biden urged the Senate to “actively cooperate with the United States to expedite the approval of the United States.”
Finnish President Ninistö also said, “Finland will become a strong NATO ally.” Regarding Turkey’s opposing position, he said, “We have always maintained good bilateral relations with Turkey,” he said. Turkey is taking issue with the operation of the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) in Finland and Sweden, which is affiliated with the Kurdish ethnic group, a secessionist force within Turkey. “We condemn all terrorism,” Niinistou said. “We will discuss Turkey’s concerns in an open and constructive manner.”
Swedish Prime Minister Andersson said, “The Russian invasion of Ukraine made me apply for NATO membership.” “We are currently increasing our defense spending, and we will reach 2% of our GDP (NATO set as our target for spending on defense) as soon as possible,” he said.
The US Congress is accelerating its aid to Ukraine in line with the administration. On the same day, the Senate passed the Ukraine Supplemental Assistance Budget Bill, which had previously been passed by the House of Representatives, with 86 votes in favor and 11 against. The total amount is 40 billion dollars (about 51 trillion won), and includes military aid of 21 billion dollars, economic aid of 8 billion dollars, and food aid of 5 billion dollars. In addition, the Senate also dealt with the ‘Presidential Use Authority (PDA)’ budget worth $11 billion (about 14 trillion won). The PDA authorizes the president to authorize transfers of U.S. defense products without congressional approval in response to emergencies.
President Biden, who went on a tour of Korea and Japan after meeting with the leaders of Finland and Sweden, is expected to receive a bill from South Korea and sign it, CNN reported by the US. With this, the total amount of U.S. aid to Ukraine after the Russian invasion exceeded 50 billion dollars (63.9 trillion won). The US administration also approved additional military aid worth $100 million (about 130 billion won) through the PDA on the same day. Secretary of State Tony Blincoln said the United States and more than 40 countries are working 24 hours a day to ship weapons and equipment essential to the defense of Ukraine.
Kim Pyo-hyang reporter suzak@hankookilbo.com
