NATO's 30 allies on Tuesday signed accession protocols for Finland and Sweden to join the Western military alliance, a move that still needs to be ratified by member states.
The lower house of Poland's parliament on Thursday almost unanimously passed legislation to enable President Andrzej Duda to ratify the two Nordic states’ membership of NATO, state news agency PAP reported.
The legislation now goes to the Senate, the upper house of Poland's parliament, for further debate.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said on Wednesday that the accession of Finland and Sweden would “strengthen NATO significantly.”
In an interview with public broadcaster Polish Radio, Błaszczak added: “It’s very advantageous for Poland’s security because it alters the situation in the Baltic Sea region.”
Poland’s President Andrzej Duda said last month that NATO’s invitation for Finland and Sweden to join the alliance was “a historic decision.”
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki declared in May that Poland would come to the aid of Finland and Sweden if the two countries were attacked by Russia before securing NATO membership.
Canada, Denmark, Norway and Iceland have already ratified Finland and Sweden's NATO entry, the PAP news agency reported.
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Source: PAP