Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate ratified the Protocols for Finland and Sweden accession into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO):
“Vladimir Putin is still waging an unprovoked and unjustified war on Ukraine, which has rightfully revived concerns of a Russian invasion from neighboring countries – especially those with a history of neutrality during the Cold War. Adding Finland and Sweden to NATO will strengthen our shared opposition to Russian aggression, while bolstering the alliance, providing crucial military and diplomatic capabilities and helping address European security challenges. This swift ratification demonstrates the Senate’s strong support for Sweden and Finland’s applications for NATO membership. I encourage our NATO allies to do the same.”
Background:
In May, Senator Cramer joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) in a letter to President Biden urging him to expedite the Executive Branch’s process to advance Sweden and Finland’s applications for NATO membership and pledging to work with the Administration to ensure swift ratification of the Washington Treaty. In the letter, the senators noted that NATO’s expansion will send a clear message to Putin and authoritarian leaders across the globe that the free world stands ready to bolster the alliance and defend our values and sovereignty, including through NATO’s open door policy.