USA: The US Senate approved Finland and Sweden's membership in Nato on Wednesday, the most significant expansion of the 30-member alliance since the 1990s in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The Senate voted 95 to 1 in favour of ratifying the two countries' accession documents, easily exceeding the two-thirds majority of 67 votes required for ratification.
Sweden and Finland applied for Nato membership in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, despite Russia's repeated warnings against joining the alliance.
Last month, Nato's 30 allies signed the accession protocol on their behalf, allowing them to join the US-led nuclear-armed alliance once its members ratify the decision.
At the time, Helsinki and Stockholm were able to attend Nato meetings and gain greater intelligence access, but they were not protected by Article Five, the Nato defence clause that states that an attack on one ally is an attack on all.
Before Finland and Sweden can be protected by the defence clause, the accession must be ratified by the parliaments of all 30 North Atlantic Treaty Organization members.
Although it has already been approved by a few countries, including Canada, Germany, and Italy, ratification could take up to a year.
Senators from both parties strongly supported the two countries' membership, describing them as important allies with modern militaries that already collaborated closely with Nato.
"The qualifications of these two prosperous, democratic nations are outstanding and will serve to strengthen the Nato alliance," Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said before the vote, urging support.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer invited Finland and Sweden's ambassadors and other diplomats to the Senate to observe the vote.
The lone no vote came from Republican Senator Josh Hawley. Republican Senator Rand Paul abstained from voting.
US Senate votes to add Sweden and Finland joining NATO
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