US Senators on Wednesday delivered overwhelming bipartisan approval to NATO membership for Finland and Sweden , calling expansion of the Western defensive bloc a "slam-dunk" for US national security, reports The Associated Press . The vote was approved by a majority of 95-1. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer invited ambassadors of the two nations to the chamber gallery to witness the vote. Approval from all member nations - currently, 30 - is required. The candidacies of the two prosperous Northern European nations have won ratification from more than half of the NATO member nations in the roughly three months since the two applied. The race is purposely rapid and meant to send a message to Russia over its six-month-old war against Ukraine. "It sends a warning shot to tyrants around the world who believe free democracies are just up for grabs," Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), said in the Senate debate ahead of the vote. "Russia’s unprovoked invasion has changed the way we think about world security," she added. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) was the only senator to vote against the resolution. His vote did not come as a surprise. He had announced his intent to vote against the resolution earlier this week, outlining his opposition in an op-ed published by The National Interest . Hawley argued that growing the country’s security commitments in Europe would make Americans less safe. Related articles: 4 US soldiers found dead after going missing in Lithuania Is Russia planning to attack another European country? No Admittance for Turkish Ottomans (NATO) Turkey blocking cooperation between NATO and Israel Each member government in NATO must give its approval for any new member to join. The process ran into unexpected trouble when Turkey raised concerns over adding Sweden and Finland, accusing the two of being soft on banned Turkish Kurdish exile groups. Turkey’s objections still threaten the two countries’ membership, noted AP .
