Biden supports Finland’s and Sweden’s offer to join NATO
US President Joe Biden has offered his strong support to the leaders of Sweden and Finland when their countries apply to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and say they meet all the necessary criteria.
“They meet all NATO requirements and a little more,” Biden told reporters.
He spoke at the White House’s Rose Garden in Washington DC with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö by his side.
The Nordic countries’ decision to join the NATO alliance was spurred by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Biden said that they were being offered “full, total, complete support from the United States of America”.
He cheered on the “momentary” day and gave his strong support to the two “great democracies” to “join the strongest and most powerful defense alliance in the history of the world”.
The press conference followed another statement from Turkey which confirmed its opposition to the move.
Turkey has expressed strong opposition to including Finland and Sweden in NATO, and asked Sweden to stop supporting Kurdish militants they consider part of a terrorist group and both countries to lift their bans on certain arms sales to Turkey.
All 30 NATO members must approve each new participant.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said in a video posted on his Twitter account today that Turkey has told allies that it will reject Sweden and Finland’s membership.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said his country would address all concerns raised by Turkey about its NATO offer and condemned “terrorism” – a key issue raised by Ankara.
“We condemn terrorism in all its forms and we are actively committed to fighting it,” Niinisto told White House reporters.
“We are open to discussing any concerns you may have regarding our membership in an open and constructive manner,” he added, addressing Turkey.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters yesterday that US officials were convinced that Turkey’s concerns could be addressed.
Mr Biden commented today, “I think we will succeed,” in the matter.