On Wednesday, the Bulgarian parliament approved by a large majority the protocols for the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO. The ratification had the support of almost all Bulgarian political forces with a parliamentary seat, with the exception of the nationalist and pro-Russian Vasrazdan, in which 11 deputies voted against, while 185 deputies from the ruling coalition and the opposition gave their support for the expansion of the Western military alliance. 44 deputies were absent from the council.
“Bulgaria welcomes the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, our close partners in the European Union, with the firm conviction that the establishment will contribute to strengthening security in the Euro-Atlantic region,” he said in a statement. Reported to the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ministry added that the accession of these countries “will open additional opportunities in the field of bilateral cooperation.”
After the invasion of Ukraine, Sweden and Finland decided to abandon their traditional position as neutral countries, although they maintained close military cooperation with NATO for a long time, and in May officially applied for membership.
At the NATO summit held in Madrid at the end of June, the leaders of the currently 30 member states of NATO agreed to invite the two northern countries to join the alliance and after Turkey waived the initial veto.
Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany are among the countries that have already completed the ratification process for the expansion of the organization.
In the United States, President Joe Biden has also initiated the confirmation process, which requires a two-thirds majority in the Senate (Senate).
The procedures for ratification of accession protocols differ from country to country.
Sweden and Finland, which temporarily guarantee the status of “invited” countries, will become full members only after the ratification of access protocols by the parliaments of the 30 countries that make up NATO.
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