Photo: whitehouse.gov
I am honoured to welcome Sweden today as the 32nd NATO ally.
75 years ago - when the United States and 11 other countries joined together to form the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - President Truman said the Alliance would "create a shield against aggression and the fear of aggression." Today, that shield - and transatlantic security - is stronger than ever thanks to Sweden's formal entry into NATO.
When Putin launched a brutal war of aggression against the people of Ukraine, he thought he could weaken Europe and divide NATO. Instead, in May 2022, Sweden and Finland - two of our close partners with two highly capable armies - made the historic decision to apply for full NATO membership. Alliance members ratified Finland's membership last year ahead of our historic Vilnius Summit. And with Sweden joining today, NATO is more united, more determined and more dynamic than ever before - it now has 32 countries.
Today we reaffirm that our shared democratic values - and our willingness to stand up for them - are what make NATO the greatest military alliance in the history of the world. It is what draws nations to our cause. It is the basis of our unity. And together with our newest ally, Sweden, NATO will continue to defend freedom and democracy for generations to come. I look forward to welcoming all 32 allies to the NATO 75th Anniversary Summit in Washington D.C. this summer.
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