NATO leaders meeting in Madrid formally invited Finland and Sweden to join the Atlantic Alliance, in a strategic turn in which they will also strengthen their eastern flank, according to a statement published by the NATO summit in Madrid on Wednesday.
“The accession of Finland and Sweden will make them (the allies) more secure, NATO stronger and the Euro-Atlantic area more secure,” the statement said, adding that the alliance will also agreed on a new strategic concept.
The statement described Russia as the “most significant and direct threat to the security of the allies”, a reaction to the massive deterioration of the relationship with Russia since its invasion of Ukraine.
The alliance promised more aid to Kyiv and agreed on a support package aimed at modernizing the country’s defense sector.
At the same time, NATO decided to significantly strengthen its own deterrence and defense.
NATO leaders denounced Russia’s “appalling cruelty” on Wednesday in Ukraine, in the final declaration of the summit held in Madrid until Thursday.
“Russia’s appalling cruelty has caused immense human suffering”, accused the Heads of State and Government of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, assuring that Moscow “bears all the responsibility for this humanitarian catastrophe”.
Swedish approval
The Swedish Prime Minister, Magdalena Andersson, said Wednesday “very happy” about the agreement reached with Turkey so that they can enter, along with Finland , in NATO, by stating: “today is a day of impo historical significance”.
Andersson, who is participating in the Summit of the NATO, which was inaugurated today in Madrid, referred in this way, in an interview on TVE collected by EFE, to Turkey’s decision to lift the veto it had with Sweden and Finland so that they could enter this organization.
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