US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto at NATO headquarters in Brussels, April 4, 2023. KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP
This declaration by Antony Blinken, head of American diplomacy, follows the official accession of Finland on Tuesday, April 4, becoming the 31st member of the Alliance.
The head of the American diplomacy Antony Blinken on Tuesday called on Turkey and Hungary to approve “without delay” the accession of Sweden to NATO, shortly after the official entry of Finland into the Atlantic Alliance.
“We encourage Turkey and Hungary to ratify Sweden’s accession protocols without delay so that we can welcome Sweden into the Atlantic Alliance as soon as possible.“, he said in a statement released after a ceremony to raise the Finnish flag at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
London calls on ‘all members’ to approve Sweden’s membership
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday welcomed the membership “historicalfrom Finland to NATO and called “all membersof the Alliance to approve that of Sweden, currently blocked by Turkey and Hungary.
Rishi Sunak, April 3, 2023. PHIL NOBLE / REUTERS
“It is a historic day for Finland and NATO (…). All NATO members must now take the necessary decisions to admit Sweden as well, so that we can form a united Alliance to defend freedom in Europe and in the world.Rishi Sunak said in a statement.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz assures his “support”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured Sweden on Tuesday of “supportfrom Berlin for its accession to NATO, currently blocked by Turkey and Hungary, while congratulating Finland on its entry into the Alliance.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on April 3, 2023. DANIEL MIHAILESCU / AFP
“Finland is from now on a member of NATO – This is good news and a gain for transatlantic security (…) The accession of Sweden, which has not yet taken place, has all our support !“, said the German leader in a tweet.