The move follows NATO leaders formally inviting the two nations to join the alliance during a summit in Madrid last week and brings the two countries one step closer to becoming full NATO members. “Canada has full confidence in the ability of Finland and Sweden to quickly and effectively integrate into NATO and contribute to the Alliance’s collective defense,” Trudeau said in a statement. “Their entry will make NATO stronger and we call on all NATO members to move quickly to complete their ratification processes to limit opportunities for interference by adversaries.” According to the Associated Press, all 30 NATO allies signed their accession protocols on Tuesday, sending their membership bids to each nation for legislative approval. Both Canada and Denmark were quick to overturn their ratification documents. “Thank you Canada! Canada is the first country to submit its instrument of ratification to the United States Department of State, the custodian of the North Atlantic Treaty!” tweeted Swedish Ambassador to Canada Urban Ahlin. In Canada, the federal government has been moving domestically to move quickly on ratification, Trudeau said. This included issuing Orders in Council authorizing Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Jolie to “take the necessary steps for ratification, on behalf of Canada.” Ahead of Parliament’s summer break, the House of Commons debated and voted on a motion signaling their support for Finland and Sweden joining NATO. In May, the House Committee on Public Safety and National Security adopted a motion expressing “strong support” for the two Scandinavian countries to join the alliance. The resolution also called on all NATO members to approve their applications as soon as possible. A debate was held on this motion on June 1, and it was unanimously approved when put to a vote the following day. “Russia’s war in Ukraine has accomplished what was once only a theory. An authoritarian state led by an autocrat has attacked a democracy: It has demonstrated that it is willing and able to attack a democracy. It has made it clear that democracies that stand alone and do not are part of military alliances are the most vulnerable,” Conservative MP and foreign affairs critic Michael Chong said during the House debate. “That’s why it became necessary for both Sweden and Finland to join the NATO alliance. This is an urgent matter.” Also joining the debate, NDP MP and foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson said she supports Finland and Sweden doing what they can to prevent further threats to their countries from Russia. “Before the further invasion of Ukraine, support for NATO membership was around 20 to 30 percent in Sweden and Finland. Now, 76 percent of the Finnish people support NATO membership. Quite simply, Vladimir Putin and the aggression of the Russian Federation is responsible for escalating tensions in the region and is leading Sweden and Finland to seek NATO membership,” McPherson said. With NATO member countries having different processes for completing ratification, it could be some time before the two nations officially become part of the long-standing intergovernmental military alliance. With files from CTV News Senior Political Correspondent Mike Le Couteur
