The US Senate has approved Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO, the most significant expansion of the 30-member alliance since the 1990s as it responds to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The tally in the 100-member Senate was 95 to 1, easily surpassing the two-thirds majority of 67 votes required to support ratification of the two countries’ accession documents.

The two countries applied for NATO membership in response to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which has repeatedly warned both against joining the alliance.

NATO’s 30 allies signed the accession protocol for them last month, allowing them to join the US-led nuclear-armed alliance once its members ratify the decision.

The accession needs to be ratified by the parliaments of all 30 North Atlantic Treaty Organisation members before Finland and Sweden can be protected by the defence clause stating that an attack on one ally is an attack against all.

-AAP