Comment The Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to admit Sweden and Finland to NATO, backing an expansion of the alliance that supporters say will send a message of condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The 95-1 vote made the United States the 23rd of 30 NATO members to ratify the proposed addition, which leaders in Helsinki and Stockholm began considering this spring in response to Russia’s aggressive cross-border campaign. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (DN.Y.) called the vote “a message to Russia: They cannot bully America or Europe.” Sweden and Finland joining NATO would enhance the alliance’s military advantages, especially since the two countries’ significant arsenals of artillery, warplanes and naval weapons are already compatible with NATO systems. The expansion – adding that Finland would more than double the body’s territory directly bordering Russia – “is the exact opposite of what Putin envisioned when he ordered his tanks into Ukraine,” the Foreign Affairs Committee chairman said Senate Relations Robert Menendez (DN.J. .). As the war continues, old political divisions are re-emerging in Ukraine According to Article 10 of the NATO charter, additional European countries may be added to the ranks only “by unanimous agreement”. The seven countries that have yet to ratify Sweden and Finland’s membership include some where opposition could be an obstacle, such as Hungary and Turkey. After initially objecting to the offer, Turkey struck a deal in late June in which it would drop its opposition to the addition of Finland and Sweden if they agreed to shut down the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, recruitment and financing networks and to meet Ankara’s demands to deport some associated individuals. At the time, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested that Sweden and Finland should “fulfill their duties” before the Turkish parliament would consider ratifying their NATO bids. And in recent weeks, he has warned that Turkey could “freeze” the process in its tracks, hinting that he was unhappy with their progress on the terms of the deal. Erdogan warns Sweden, Finland to ‘fulfill’ duties under NATO deal Meanwhile, Hungary, whose authoritarian right-wing leader Viktor Orbán, is expected to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Texas this week, he remains cryptic about how he will handle Sweden and Finland’s bid. Even in the United States, there is a small but vocal group that opposes NATO expansion. In a provocative speech before Wednesday’s vote, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) argued that allowing Finland and Sweden to join NATO would be against U.S. interests because “NATO expansion would require more United States forces in Europe, more manpower, more firepower, more resources, more spending, and not just now, but over time.” “Our biggest foreign rival is not in Europe, our biggest foreign rival is in Asia,” he insisted. Hawley’s opposition was strongly criticized by members of his own party. “Working more closely with these partners will help us deal with Russia and China,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on the floor, calling the accession “national security shampoo.” Democrats cheered after Kansas abortion vote Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), meanwhile, pointed out that it would be “really strange” for senators who voted for North Macedonia to join NATO in 2019 — a group that includes Hawley — to suddenly oppose the candidacy of Finland and Sweden. “Let’s be honest, who can deny the much stronger cases for Finland and Sweden?” Cotton said, arguing that these countries they were “much larger, much more capable and much more strategically placed.” Hawley’s opposition was all the more striking given that Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who opposed North Macedonia’s 2019 entry and Montenegro’s 2017 entry, voted in favor of allowing Finland and Sweden into NATO . Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), the only other senator to oppose the nominations of North Macedonia and Montenegro, voted “present” on Wednesday, noting in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, “I am less adamant about preventing NATO expansion with Sweden and Finland.” The Senate rejected Paul’s efforts to attach an amendment to the ratification that would expressly state that the United States’ Article 5 obligations to defend member states would not override Congress’s constitutional right to authorize the use of military force. Menendez said the amendment was “unnecessary” to protect the constitutional role of Congress. He told his colleagues that it was potentially “deeply damaging” and “self-defeating to do anything that calls into question our firm commitment to NATO”. The Senate approved by voice vote an amendment stating its expectation that all NATO members spend at least 2 percent of their GDP on defense.
