Finland, Sweden another step closer to full NATO membership

Finland and Sweden are a step closer to full NATO membership after all thirty NATO allies signed an accession protocol.

It will be NATO’s biggest expansion in decades – but it likely won’t happen in full for at least a year.

NATO allies signed an accession protocol for Finland and Sweden to join the military alliance in Brussels on Tuesday (July 5).

Ankara had previously threatened to scupper their chances of joining.

Both Nordic countries gave assurances to Turkey in response that they would do more to fight terrorism – and Turkey backed down.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg hailed the historic move,

This is truly an historic moment […] with 32 nations around the table, we will be even stronger.

JENS StOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL

This protocol allows Helsinki and Stockholm to take part in NATO meetings, and have greater access to intelligence.

But the ratification process can take up to a year or more.

Neither country will be protected by NATO’s defence clause – where an attack on one is considered an attack on all during that time.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Duma announced two bills that would put Russia onto a more aggressive wartime economy.

The first bill would allow Russia’s government to demand businesses supply the military with goods.

The second bill would oblige employees to be available to work overtime, nights, and forego additional pay in support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The bills need a second and third reading, approval by Russia’s upper house, and be signed by Vladimir Putin before they would become law