Ursula von der Leyen Predicts 'Stronger' NATO After Finland and Sweden Accession

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President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO makes the alliance “larger, more European, and stronger” during her doorstep remarks at a NATO summit in Madrid on Wednesday, June 29.

In video posted by the European Commission, Von der Leyen said, “Putin tried to divide us, but what he got is an even stronger alignment between the European Union and NATO. And therefore it is a good day for the transatlantic alliance, for the European Union, and for Finland and Sweden.”

That day, NATO officially extended an invitation for Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO and agreed to sign the Accession Protocols. In a statement, the alliance said, “The accession of Finland and Sweden will make them safer, NATO stronger, and the Euro-Atlantic area more secure.” Credit: European Commission via Storyful

Video Transcript

URSULA VON DER LEYEN: The accession of Finland and Sweden makes NATO larger, more European, and stronger. Putin tried to divide us, but what he finally got is an even stronger alignment between the European Union and NATO. And therefore, it is a good day for the transatlantic alliance, for the European Union, and for Finland and Sweden.

The accession of Finland and Sweden makes NATO larger, more European, and stronger. Putin tried to divide us, but what he finally got is an even stronger alignment between the European Union and NATO. And therefore, it is a good day for the transatlantic alliance, for the European Union, and for Finland and Sweden.

The accession of Finland and Sweden makes NATO larger, more European, and stronger. Putin tried to divide us, but what he finally got is an even stronger alignment between the European Union and NATO. And therefore, it is a good day for the transatlantic alliance, for the European Union, and for Finland and Sweden.