Political Quotes

“I thank Representative Costa, who I am very proud to serve with on the board of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. We look forward to recognizing and accepting a full delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly from both Finland and Sweden. Vladimir Putin launched his unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine and the inhumane assault on innocent civilians, thinking that he would be able to divide the NATO alliance. He was mistaken. Instead, Finland and Sweden responded by dropping their policies of military neutrality and applying for NATO membership. As NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg put it, Vladimir Putin wanted less NATO, and now he is getting more NATO on his borders. Finland and Sweden will both be significant security providers for NATO. This bipartisan resolution supports ratifying the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO. Having served as the president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, I understand the fundamental role this organization plays in defending democracies and supporting freedom. Finland and Sweden's strategic location in northern Europe, advanced militaries, and decades of fighting alongside the U.S. and NATO mean that their accession will immediately strengthen transatlantic security. Finland and Sweden have well-trained armed forces, sophisticated modern weapons systems, and have committed to allocating 2 percent of their gross domestic product to defense spending.…”