WASHINGTON — Following the official process for applying to NATO, both Finland and Sweden applied to be a part of the United States’ NATO alliance. President Joe Biden declared Thursday that the United States supports Sweden as well as Finland.

Biden was flanked in this meeting by the Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, and Magdalena Andersson (Swedish Prime Minister). He said that these two countries will “make NATO more powerful.” Their decision to join NATO was a victory for democracy, he said.

The president pledged to work with Congress — which has to ratify U.S. approval of NATO bids — and the 30 members of the world’s most powerful military alliance to swiftly bring Sweden and Finland into the group. 

Biden spoke out following a tripartite meeting with leaders, “There’s no doubt, NATO is relevant and effective. It is now more important than ever.”

This push is coming as Russia’s attack on Ukraine raises fears for the rest of the region. Moscow is long opposed to NATO expansion and has resisted the countries’ attempts to join the alliance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated earlier in the week that any expansion of military infrastructure on this territory or Finland’s accession to NATO would “certainly cause our response.”

In a similar vein, Monday’s statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Russia would be “forced to take retaliatory measures, both military-technical, and otherwise, to end the threats to its security.”

The requirements for NATO membership are met in many ways by Sweden and Finland. These include a functioning democracy, willingness to give economic transparency, and ability to contribute militaryly to NATO missions.

All 30 NATO members have to approve the bid of a country before it can be accepted in the alliance.

Recep Tayyip Turkey Erdogan, Turkish President, said earlier this week that he will not accept the NATO applications for both Sweden (and Finland) Turkey views Kurdish organisations as security threats, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan has mentioned their support.

He stated that the delegations of nations shouldn’t bother traveling to Turkey to attempt to convince him otherwise.

Both Andersson, Niinisto, and Andersson addressed Erdogan’s concerns in remarks made at the White House Rose Garden.

Niinisto stated that “we take terrorist acts seriously” and added that Finland regularly works with its allies in order to defeat terror plots.

Andersson stated that Sweden is speaking with NATO members and was holding further talks with Turkey in order to address specific concerns.