Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza's hospitals recorded six deaths due to starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, all of them adults

NATO officially invites Sweden, Finland to join

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 29 Jun 2022 18:21
3 Min Read

Between security and interests; just after NATO declared that Russia poses a direct threat to its security, it announces that China's "coercive policies challenge our interest."

  • x
  • NATO invites Sweden, Finland to join
    NATO invites Sweden, Finland to join

NATO leaders decided Wednesday to formally invite Finland and Sweden to join the alliance after Turkey agreed to withdraw its reservations, according to a statement.

"Today, we have decided to invite Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO, and agreed to sign the Accession Protocols," a statement said.

Finland's President Sauli Niinisto confirmed on Tuesday that Turkey has agreed to support Finland and Sweden's joint membership of NATO, on the first day of the alliance's summit in the Spanish capital Madrid.

Niinisto said the breakthrough came after the three countries signed a joint memorandum "to extend their full support against threats to each other’s security."

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters, "I am pleased to announce that we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO."

NATO leaders call Russia "appallingly cruel"

According to NATO leaders on Wednesday, Moscow now presented a "direct danger" to the Western alliance.

Read more: NATO to consider Russia a threat and China a "strategic challenge"

In a declaration from the Madrid summit, the leaders stated that "Russia's appalling cruelty has caused immense human suffering and massive displacements, disproportionately affecting women and children."

Related News

Report questions Turkey’s role in future European defense plans

US threatens new tariffs on Russian oil buyers after Moscow ultimatum

Jens Stoltenberg, Alliance leader, unveiled a new combined package of more aid, including secure communications technology and anti-drone devices, saying "Ukraine can count on us for as long as it takes."

The summit decided on a new NATO strategy, stating that Russia "is the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area".

The document updated for the first time since 2010 stated that "we cannot discount the possibility of an attack against allies’ sovereignty and territorial integrity."

The summit statement added that "allies have committed to deploy additional robust in-place combat-ready forces on our eastern flank."

NATO: China's "coercive policies challenge our interest"

For the first time in its guiding document, NATO acknowledged on Wednesday that China's power poses a risk to the alliance and that Beijing's deeper connections to Moscow were detrimental to Western interests.

"The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) stated ambitions and coercive policies challenge our interests, security, and values," the summit concept stated.

"It strives to subvert the rules-based international order, including in the space, cyber and maritime domains."

NATO accused China of targeting NATO members with its "malicious hybrid and cyber operations and its confrontational rhetoric."

Despite some countries' reluctance to shift focus away from Europe, NATO's leading power, the United States, has pushed for the alliance to pay greater attention to China.

Following the war in Ukraine, Russia was identified as the "most significant and direct threat to allies’ security," according to NATO's guiding document, which was revised for the first time since 2010.

It further stated that growing connections between Moscow and Beijing "run counter to our values and interests."

Leaders from Asian partners Japan and South Korea were attending a NATO meeting for the first time, indicating growing concerns about China.

  • Nato
  • Finland
  • Sweden

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS