On Thursday, US President Joe Biden predicted in his speech at the Air Force Academy that Sweden will soon join NATO. A few days ago, the president hinted at a possible agreement with Turkey in order to overcome the country’s objections to Sweden joining the alliance, reports the agency “Reuters”.
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On Monday, May 29, Biden held a conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to congratulate him on his re-election as president. After the conversation, Biden commented that Ankara has repeatedly expressed its desire to purchase F-16 fighter jets from the United States, while the president has called on Erdogan to drop his objections to Sweden joining NATO.
In a speech at the academy on Thursday, Biden explained that the alliance is stronger despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to tear it apart by invading Ukraine. The influence of the alliance has also increased due to the acquisition of Finland’s member state status and, as the president himself described, soon also Sweden’s.
“It will happen, I promise you,” the US president emphasized in his speech.
Biden explained after Monday’s conversation with Erdogan that he would contact the Turkish president again soon.
The White House has denied that Biden would seek a deal with Ankara to drop its objections to Sweden in exchange for F-16 fighter jets.
On Tuesday, May 30, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called on Turkey to immediately approve Sweden’s accession to NATO, claiming that the candidate country has already taken significant steps to address Turkey’s objections to its membership in the alliance.
2023-06-02 08:05:54
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