Biden To Host Swedish PM For Talks On NATO, Ukraine

 

This combination of file photos shows (L-R) US President Joe Biden in Washington on June 14, 2023, and Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at the European Union headquarters in Brussels on March 20, 2023 ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS, John THYS Text size US President Joe Biden will host Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson next week to talk about transatlantic security cooperation and the war in Ukraine, the White House said Saturday. The two leaders "will review our growing security cooperation and reaffirm their view that Sweden should join NATO as soon as possible," the White House said in a statement about the July 5 meeting.

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President Joe Biden will host Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at the White House on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, to discuss the Nordic nation's bid to join NATO and the war in Ukraine.

The meeting comes at a critical juncture for Sweden's NATO membership application, which has been stalled by objections from two NATO members, Turkey and Hungary. Biden has been a vocal supporter of Sweden's membership, and he is expected to use the meeting to reaffirm his commitment to helping Sweden secure NATO membership.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss the war in Ukraine. Sweden has provided significant military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, and it is considering sending troops to NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in Eastern Europe. Biden is likely to thank Kristersson for Sweden's support for Ukraine, and he may also urge Sweden to send troops to the eFP.

In addition to NATO and Ukraine, the two leaders are also expected to discuss other issues of mutual interest, such as climate change and the global economy.

Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO in May 2022, three months after Russia invaded Ukraine. The two countries had long maintained a policy of neutrality, but they decided to abandon that policy in response to the Russian invasion.

NATO membership would provide Sweden and Finland with a security guarantee from the United States and other NATO members. It would also allow them to participate in NATO's military planning and operations.

However, Turkey and Hungary have blocked Sweden and Finland's NATO membership bids. Turkey has accused Sweden and Finland of supporting Kurdish groups that it considers to be terrorists. Hungary has raised concerns about NATO's expansion eastward.

Biden has been a vocal supporter of Sweden and Finland's NATO membership. He has said that he believes the two countries would make "strong and capable" members of NATO. He has also urged Turkey and Hungary to drop their objections to Sweden and Finland's membership bids.

The meeting between Biden and Kristersson is a sign of the United States' continued support for Sweden's NATO membership. It is also a sign that the United States is working to overcome the objections of Turkey and Hungary.

The outcome of the meeting is uncertain. However, it is clear that Biden is committed to helping Sweden secure NATO membership. He is also likely to urge Kristersson to send troops to the eFP in Eastern Europe.

The meeting between Biden and Kristersson is a significant event in the ongoing NATO membership bids of Sweden and Finland. It is a sign of the United States' continued support for the two countries, and it is a chance for the two leaders to discuss the latest developments in the war in Ukraine and other issues of mutual interest.