Skip to main content

Prospect of Finland and Sweden joining NATO discussed at NATO meeting, says U.S. official

 The prospect of Finland and Sweden joining NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) was discussed during the meeting of foreign ministers from the military alliance in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, this week. A senior U.S. State Department official confirmed this news on Thursday.

The official reportedly said, “The alliance’s door remains open and there was discussion about that potential candidacy.” The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a short conversation with Finland's foreign minister. Reportedly, the military alliance’s top civilian official also said NATO will welcome Finland and Sweden if they wish to apply for the membership in the coming days. 

The NATO foreign ministers met to discuss the war in Ukraine. Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels, “If they decide to apply, I expect that all allies will welcome them.”

Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted the two countries to consider joining the U.S.-led alliance. Last month, a poll by Finnish broadcaster YLE showed that more than 50 percent of Finns support joining the Western military alliance. Finnish foreign minister Pekka Haavisto told reporters earlier that Finland will clarify the next steps in deciding on applying for the membership. 

Before launching the war on Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that the 30-nation military organization pull its troops back from Russia’s borders. In 2021, Russia began deploying big numbers of troops close to Ukraine's borders. Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February. More than 3.5 million refugees have now fled Ukraine because of the war.

Earlier, the European Union (EU) imposed economic sanctions against Russia and Russian oligarchs and leaders. The United States (US) government also imposed sanctions on two Russian banks, Moscow's sovereign debt, and several other measures. Reportedly, Ukraine had received additional security pledges from the United States amid the conflict.

Finland and Sweden joining NATO discussed at NATO meeting


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Netanyahu’s Shocking Gaza Plan: ‘We Will Take Control of ALL of Gaza’ — But At What Cost?

  As Israeli forces intensify their offensive, Netanyahu vows total control of Gaza — but the humanitarian crisis is reaching a breaking point. Will the world stand by and watch? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel will “take control of all” of the Gaza Strip, signaling an unprecedented escalation in the ongoing conflict. In a video posted to Telegram, Netanyahu emphasized that military operations are advancing rapidly, with no intention of backing down. “The fighting is intense, and we are making progress,” he said, framing the offensive as necessary for Israel’s long-term security. But as international pressure mounts, his government is walking a tightrope between military dominance and global condemnation. The Israeli military has ordered mass evacuations in southern Gaza, warning residents of Khan Yunis and surrounding areas to flee immediately ahead of a devastating assault. Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee described the coming attack as ...

Israel issues latest forced evacuation order in areas in Khan Younis

  The Israeli army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, has issued the latest forced evacuation order for civilians living in nine areas in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Adraee said that the army was expanding its operation and “intensifying sudden and concentrated firepower”. The spokesperson called on residents to evacuate westward. So-called Israeli safe zones, including Al-Mawasi in Khan Younis, are routinely attacked despite the army forcing Palestinians to move to those areas.

UAE initiates extensive CAR T-cell treatment in the region

The United Arab Emirates has transformed the medical structure of the region as it slowly moves towards attaining leadership in medical treatments and complex procedures. It has stepped up on the list with a pioneering treatment led by Abu Dhabi. The capital has witnessed a revolutionary process that focuses on the safety and efficacy of using the CAR T-Cell treatment module especially for hematologic or blood cancers such as lymphoma, myeloma, and certain types of leukemia. This is an exemplary step in the context of the region as it is the first of its kind treatment here.  On Saturday, the Emirati nation began its experiment to locally manufacture CAR T-Cell treatment at Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center. The T-Cells will be locally reprogrammed and tested for their effectiveness so that they get better results when it comes to treating cancer.   The unit for the stem cell treatment ADSCC was founded in 2019 and since then it has grown threefold when it comes to experimenting wit...