Durbin Enthusiastically Supports Finland And Sweden Accession To NATO
Durbin: Because of Putin’s war in Ukraine, NATO alliance is stronger than ever
WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, applauded the Senate’s upcoming vote to approve Sweden and Finland’s membership to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). During his speech, Durbin reflected on his recent trip to Lithuania and the NATO summit in Madrid.
“I stand in solid support of the accession of Finland and Sweden into NATO,” said Durbin. “I visited Lithuania… I met with the former President, Valdas Adamkus. He had the vision to realize that the future of Lithuania and the Baltic States was in the European Union and NATO and worked strenuously to achieve those goals and I was happy to join him in that effort.”
With Sweden and Finland joining NATO, Durbin reiterated that this sends a clear message to Vladimir Putin amid his unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine.
Durbin continued, “If Vladimir Putin thought by invading Ukraine he could somehow inhibit the future of NATO or in some way limit its future, the opposite has occurred. The NATO alliance is stronger than ever and the United States commitment to NATO is stronger than ever.”
Durbin concluded, “I will gladly join in the support of the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO. I believe it not only strengthens our alliance when it comes to Ukraine, it prepares us for challenges in the future, and it is the right thing for America's security.”
Video of Durbin’s floor speech is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s floor speech is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s floor speech is available here for TV Stations.
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