Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register ROME, Aug 3 (Reuters) – Italy’s parliament on Wednesday gave its final approval to a bill endorsing Finland and Sweden’s entry into the NATO alliance. The Senate voted 202 to 13 in favor of the bill, a day after the lower house overwhelmingly approved it. Accession must be ratified by the parliaments of all 30 North Atlantic Treaty Organization members before Finland and Sweden are protected by NATO’s defense clause that states an attack on one member is an attack on all. read more Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register The Lower House vote on Tuesday was welcomed by Giorgia Meloni, whose far-right Brothers of Italy party is seen as the frontrunner in the September 25 national election. “In the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine, strengthening the Alliance’s European front is an important step that can act as a deterrent to new Russian threats,” Meloni said in a statement. Meloni, leader of the most popular party in the conservative coalition, had supported Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s decision to send weapons to Ukraine, even though it was opposed by his government. read more However, its two main allies, the Liga and Forza Italia, were far more ambivalent, reflecting their historically close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Report by Angelo Amante. Edited by Mike Harrison Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
