Rounds Issues Statement Supporting NATO Accession of Finland and Sweden

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, today issued the following statement after the Senate voted to expand the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which would bring Finland and Sweden into the alliance.

“Finland and Sweden have consistently demonstrated the advantages and capabilities they would bring to NATO. Both countries are longtime partners of the alliance and have gone through the necessary procedures to join. The requests to become formal members of NATO come as the Russian military initiated an unjustified and despicable invasion against the sovereign country of Ukraine. Finland and Sweden are well positioned to provide support to NATO allies if needed and are strategic additions to the alliance. As a member of the Senate’s NATO Observer Group, I am pleased the Senate efficiently provided ‘advice and consent’ and voted with wide bipartisan support for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. The accession of both countries will send a message of unity and strengthen the alliance against Russia’s growing threat.”