President Andrzej Duda signed legislation to ratify the two Nordic states’ membership of the Western military alliance at a high-profile ceremony in the Baltic port city of Gdynia, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
"Today is a very important day for NATO, for our part of Europe, for the Baltic Sea region and for the security of this part of the world," Duda said during the ceremony at the Polish Navy port in Gdynia.
He added that the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO was also important "for future generations" of Europeans.
Duda told the gathering: "Two powerful Baltic Sea nations are becoming part of the alliance, which greatly strengthens our security."
He noted that NATO's border with Russia was "being extended by 1,600 km."
The ratification ceremony was held two days after Polish senators voted unanimously to approve the enlargement.
The bill was earlier overwhelmingly passed by the lower chamber of Poland's bicameral parliament.
NATO's 30 allies on July 5 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 Polish president said last month that NATO’s invitation for Finland and Sweden to join the alliance was “a historic decision.”
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said earlier this month 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.”
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 formally securing NATO membership.
Canada, Denmark, Norway and Iceland are among the countries that have already ratified Finland and Sweden's NATO entry, the PAP state news agency reported.
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Source: IAR, PAP