Planned entry into NATO: Bundestag for the admission of Finland and Sweden

The Bundestag approved the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO with a large majority. “Europe’s power is growing,” said Defense Minister Lambrecht in the plenary session. It is now up to the Federal Council.

With a large majority, the Bundestag has given the green light for Sweden and Finland to join NATO. The factions of the SPD, Greens, FDP and Union voted for the North expansion of the transatlantic alliance. The AfD parliamentary group largely agreed, the Left Party against. Germany is thus one of the first countries to give the go-ahead for two northern partners to join NATO. Estonia and Canada had previously done so.

Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht emphasized that Russian President Vladimir Putin has so far achieved exactly the opposite of what he actually wanted with his war of aggression against Ukraine. “The West, which he despises so much, is getting stronger, not weaker,” said the SPD politician in parliament.

Federal Council still has to agree

After the Bundestag, the Bundesrat must also agree to the NATO accession of the two northern countries, which was expected during the course of the day. “Germany is sending an important signal of solidarity and reliability,” said Lambrecht. She emphasized that with the admission of the two EU states to the alliance, the balance of power would also shift: “Europe’s strength will increase and the US will be relieved.”

“gain in strength and cohesion”

At the start of the debate, the federal government campaigned for approval. “The planned accession of Finland and Sweden to the North Atlantic Defense Alliance is of outstanding importance for us and our partners in view of the shocks we are experiencing in Europe and around the world as a result of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine,” said Tobias Lindner, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office , who spoke for the government.

In a dramatically changed security situation in Europe, this accession not only means additional security for the Nordic partners, but also an increase in strength and cohesion for NATO as a whole, said Lindner. There is also a long partnership with both countries. “Today we are strengthening NATO’s democratic values.”

All NATO countries must agree

On Tuesday, the ambassadors of the 30 alliance states had already signed the so-called accession protocols at the headquarters in Brussels in the presence of the foreign ministers of the two Nordic countries. So far, Canada, Estonia, Norway, Denmark and Iceland have ratified membership.

The two previously militarily neutral states had applied for NATO membership under the impression of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. Finland shares a 1300 km border with Russia. For accession to take effect, all NATO countries must agree to it and complete the ratification process.