'Will enhance our collective strength': Biden as NATO formally invites Finland, Sweden to become members

Washington: As the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) officially invited Finland and Sweden to become members, US President Joe Biden has said that it will enhance the alliance's collective strength.

"The NATO Alliance is proud to invite Finland and Sweden to become members. Their decision to join this Alliance is going to make us stronger and more secure – it will bolster the steps we’re taking during this summit to enhance our collective strength (sic)," President Biden tweeted.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had on Tuesday lifted his opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO following crunch talks with the leaders of the two Nordic countries in Madrid.

Following this, the US President had on Wednesday congratulated Türkiye, Sweden and Finland after the three nations agreed on a memorandum that paved the way for the two Nordic nations' accession to the NATO alliance.

Taking to Twitter, the US President said Finland and Sweden are strong democracies with capable militaries and their membership will strengthen NATO’s collective security.

"Congratulations to Finland, Sweden, and Türkiye on signing a trilateral memorandum – a crucial step towards a NATO invite to Finland and Sweden, which will strengthen our Alliance and bolster our collective security – and a great way to begin the Summit," Biden wrote on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned Finland and Sweden that if they welcome NATO troops and military infrastructure onto their territory, Moscow will respond in kind.

"Only we must clearly and precisely understand - while there was no threat before, in the case of military contingents and military infrastructure being deployed there, we will have to respond symmetrically and raise the same threats in those territories from where threats have arisen for us," CNN quoted the Russian President as saying while addressing a news conference in Turkmenistan.