On Tuesday 5 July, at NATO Headquarters, Ambassadors from the 30 allied countries signed the protocols of accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO. They are now ‘official invitees', and can participate in the discussions.
“This is a historic day for Finland, for Sweden, for NATO and for Euro-Atlantic security”, stressed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, alongside Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde.
He said both countries would make “strong and important” contributions to the Alliance. “Our forces are interoperable. They have been training, exercising and serving together for many years. We share the same values and face the same challenges, in the Baltic Sea and beyond”, said Mr Stoltenberg.
“We will do our part by contributing to NATO’s collective defence shoulder to shoulder with the other Allies”, Linde promised, while Haavisto said, “Finland will contribute to making NATO even stronger, both politically and militarily”.
The Protocols of Accession will now be sent to all Allies for ratification in accordance with their national procedures.
Congratulating all members for acting so quickly in accepting the applications for membership from Finland and Sweden - which were submitted on 18 May - the Secretary General said he was counting on all Allies to ensure a “swift and smooth” ratification. “Many Allies have prepared, many parliaments have already said they are ready to do this very quickly,” he stressed, adding that the last similar ratification process took “about 12 months”.
While Mr Haavisto and Ms Linde hoped for a speedy ratification, it may take some time. In Madrid, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned that the commitments made in the Memorandum of Understanding between his country, Finland and Sweden would have to be fulfilled before the Turkish Parliament would ratify the accession of the two countries (see EUROPE 12983/3).
Asked about the extraditions requested by Ankara, which are not quantified in the protocol, the two ministers said that their authorities were working, as usual, on extradition and expulsion issues, in accordance with their legislation.
Pending the accession of the two countries, several Allies have already made clear commitments to their security during the ratification process. According to Linde, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland and the Nordic and Baltic countries have committed themselves. Mr Soltenberg said that the Alliance had strengthened its presence in the region, in particular by increasing the number of exercises.
On Monday, the two Nordic countries completed accession talks after NATO leaders decided in Madrid to invite them to join the Alliance and following a trilateral agreement with Turkey (see EUROPE 12982/1). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)