The resolution passed the House by a vote of 394-18, with only Republicans voting in opposition. Two Democrats and 17 Republicans did not vote. GOP lawmakers who voted “no” were Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Dan Bishop (NC), Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Madison Cawthorn (NC), Ben Cline (Va.), Michael Cloud (Texas) , Warren Davidson (Ohio), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Bob Good (Va.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Morgan Griffith (Va.), Thomas Massie (Ky.), Tom McClintock (Calif.), Mary Miller (Ill.), Ralph Norman (SC), Matt Rosendale (Mont.), Chip Roy (Texas) and Jefferson Van Drew (NJ). The measure, which has bipartisan sponsorship, expresses support for Finland and Sweden’s “historic decision” to apply to NATO and calls on member states to formally support their membership in the military alliance. It also opposes any attempts by the Russian Federation to respond negatively to the decision of Finland and Sweden to join the alliance and urges NATO members to meet the two percent defense spending commitment signed by the countries at the Wales Summit in 2014. That statement said NATO allies that currently spend at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense will try to keep doing so. The House adopted the resolution exactly two months after Finland and Sweden submitted their applications to join NATO. On June 29, the military alliance formally invited the two Nordic countries to join the group. Even before then, however, on June 9, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a resolution by voice vote calling on NATO to quickly grant membership to Finland and Sweden. The push for Finland and Sweden to join NATO has intensified this year, particularly after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, which is still ongoing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently said the war could end by the end of this year. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) voiced his support for the resolution during the House debate on Monday, saying “two great new members” will be added to the European community and underscoring the value brought by the countries in the alliance. “Together, Finland and Sweden will add significant capabilities to NATO’s collective defense and make the Baltic region much safer against Russian aggression. But much more than that, they will add value because of their values to our alliance,” Hoyer said. Hoyer also called for Russia’s “strategic defeat” in the war, emphasizing the international significance of a victory for Kyiv. “Vladimir Putin must not win this war. Not only for the sake of the Ukrainians and their extraordinary bravery, and the bravery and leadership of Mr. Zelensky, their president, but because the free world must send a very strong, clear and unmistakable message that tyranny will not prevail. he said. “We must send a message to dictators around the world that this action is unacceptable and will be contrary to the victory of the free world. We must defend the hard-won principle of international laws and norms that a nation cannot simply invade and seek to conquer territory from a neighbor by force,” he added. Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio), the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee and sponsor of the resolution, said Finland and Sweden would be “important security providers for NATO.” Trump Responds to Pulitzer Rejection of Request to Revok Reference Awards The 18 House Republicans who voted against a resolution supporting Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership “Finland and Sweden’s strategic position in northern Europe, advanced militaries and decades of fighting alongside the US and NATO mean that their membership will immediately strengthen transatlantic security,” he said during the debate on the floor of the House. “Finland and Sweden have well-trained armed forces, sophisticated modern weapon systems and have committed to allocating 2% of their gross domestic product to defense spending. “Both servicemen are highly interoperable with NATO forces, having participated in numerous NATO-led operations from Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and Herzegovina to Kosovo,” he added.
