WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley
– a member of the Senate NATO Observer Group and the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee – released the following statement after the Senate ratified applications
of Finland and Sweden to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO):
“The U.S. Senate
took a historic vote today in ratifying Finland and Sweden’s NATO accession.
The inclusion of these two Nordic countries and European Union members, not
only contributes to NATO’s military capabilities and resources, it also
strengthens the democratic values that at are at the core of the alliance. In
the face of Russia’s unprovoked aggression in Ukraine and assault on democracy,
more broadly, the importance of transatlantic unity cannot be overstated.”
Senator Merkley missed today’s floor vote as he is with his
mother in Oregon at a critical moment. He previously supported the accession
treaty when it was voted on in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
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