Sweden and Finland “have the full, complete and complete support” of the US in their decision to apply for Nato membership, said President Joe Biden. Both countries submitted their applications for membership of the Western defense alliance this week, marking a major change in European politics. To join the alliance, the two countries need the support of all 30 NATO member states. However, the Nordic movement was opposed by Turkey. Speaking with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish Prime Minister Saul Niinisto at the White House on Thursday, Mr Biden called the Swedish and Finnish demands a “strong moment for European security”.”New members joining Nato are not a threat to any nation,” he said.
The president added that having two new members in thenorth will improve the security of our partners and deepen our security cooperation across the country”. Russia has repeatedly said it sees Nato as a threat and has warned of “consequences” if the block continues its expansion plans. Turkey has accused Sweden and Finland of dealing with suspected terrorists of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group considered by them to be a terrorist organization. However, both Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and British Defense Minister Ben Wallace expressed confidence that these concerns would eventually be resolved.
Bill passed by house
Mr Biden’s comments came as the US Senate voted to approve a new $ 40bn (£ 32bn) bill to provide military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, the largest emergency aid package to date in Ukraine. The bill passed by the House of Representatives with widespread bipartisan support on May 10 – was expected to be passed earlier this week, but was blocked by Rand Paul of the Kentucky Republican over a dispute over spending control.
But Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell dismissed the concerns and told reporters that Congress “has a responsibility” to support “the defense of democracy”.”Anyone concerned about the cost of supporting Ukraine’s victory should consider the huge costs if Ukraine loses,” Mr McConnell said.
Last week, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Congress to approve the package and warned that U.S. troops had enough money to ship weapons to Kyiv until May 19.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the aid package “as a significant US contribution to restoring peace and security in Ukraine, Europe and the world”.The package brings the total US aid delivery to Ukraine in excess of $ 50bn, including $ 6bn of security assistance such as training, equipment, weapons and support. Another $ 8.7bn will be allocated to fill shares of US equipment already shipped to Ukraine.
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