With a large majority, the Bundestag gives the green light for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. Even the AfD largely agrees, only the left disagrees. Germany is likely to be the first country in the alliance to ratify the admission of both countries.
The Bundestag approved the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO by a large majority. In Berlin, the factions of the SPD, the Greens, the FDP and the Union voted for the North expansion of the transatlantic alliance. The AfD parliamentary group also largely agreed, while the left opposed it.
Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht from the SPD 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 the parliamentary debate.
After the Bundestag, the Bundesrat must also agree to the NATO accession of the two northern countries, which is still to be expected in the course of the morning. This would make Germany the first NATO country to ratify the admission of Finland and Sweden to the alliance.
"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."
The two hitherto militarily traditionally 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.
