President ratifies Finland and Sweden to join NATO – The First News

Andrzej Duda, the Polish President, has ratified treaties for Finland and Sweden to join NATO, a presidential aide told PAP.

The two Nordic countries gave up decades of neutrality after Russia invaded Ukraine, sparking a conventional military conflict not seen in Europe since World War II.

“Mr. President today ratified the protocols of Sweden and Finland joining NATO,” Malgorzata Paprocka, a minister of the President, told PAP late Friday.

The Polish President signed the relevant bills on July 22, authorizing him to ratify accession. The lower house of parliament, the Sejm, passed the law on July 7, and the bills were approved by the Senate, the upper house, on July 20.

“It is a very important day, not only for NATO, not only for our part of Europe, for the Baltic Sea basin and the security of this part of the world,” Duda said on July 22. “It is also a very important day…for future generations of Poles and those who will live and build their daily life and happiness in this part of Europe and the world.”

Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO in mid-May. Today they have invited country status and can attend NATO meetings, but have no voting rights. All 30 current members of the bloc must agree to admit the two Nordic countries into the alliance.