Marco Rubio Wants Finland and Sweden to Join NATO

May 20, 2022, 9:00 am

This week, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., joined bipartisan members of the Senate NATO Observer Group in a joint statement of support for Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO in response to the respective nations announcing their intent to join the transatlantic alliance:

“The Senate NATO Observer Group welcomes today’s announcement by Finland and Sweden that they will begin the formal application process to join the NATO Alliance in pursuit of peace and prosperity in Europe. NATO has helped preserve our world order for more than 70 years, but as Putin’s campaign of violence in Ukraine continues and as he looks elsewhere to spread his malign influence, Finland and Sweden’s entry into NATO at this moment is paramount to countering his threats to global security, and especially to nearby, vulnerable nations,” the senators said.

“Finland and Sweden are longstanding NATO partners who already share the collective values that guide our alliance. This demonstration of their intent proves that there are different paths to NATO membership, and we welcome the addition of two highly-capable and enduring partners to join the alliance officially,” the senators added.

U.S. Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wy., Cory Booker, D-NJ, Chris Coons, D-Del., Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., Angus King, I-Maine, Jeff Merkley D-Oreg., Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Mike Rounds, R-SD, Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, Thom Tillis, R-NC, and Chris Van Hollen, D-Mary., joined Rubio in the statement.