U.S. President Joe Biden is due to meet the leaders of Sweden and Finland on May 19 after the two countries officially applied for membership in NATO, renouncing their traditional neutrality in response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Biden, who has strongly backed the two countries’ bids and said the United States will remain vigilant against any threats to their security, will receive Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto at the White House.
“I warmly welcome and strongly support the historic applications from Finland and Sweden for membership in NATO and look forward to working with the U.S. Congress and our NATO Allies to quickly bring Finland and Sweden into the strongest defensive alliance in history,” Biden said in a statement on May 18.
Both Sweden and Finland are members of the European Union, and the latter shares a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia.
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
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