U.S. President Joe Biden showed support for Sweden’s entry into NATO in talks with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Wednesday as doubts linger that Turkey will lift its opposition in time for the military alliance’s summit next week, transmits Reuters.
Biden leaves on Sunday on a three-nation trip centered around the summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, where alliance members hope to welcome Sweden as its newest member.
Biden, seated next to Kristersson in the Oval Office with reporters present, said he was “anxiously looking forward to your membership” in NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Alliance.)
Kristersson said after the meeting that the two leaders agreed that the Vilnius meeting was a “natural time” to finalize the Nordic country’s bid to join the alliance.
“But we both also know that only Turkey can make Turkish decisions,” Kristersson told reporters at the Swedish embassy in Washington.
Biden “praised Sweden’s role as a regional security provider and underscored his commitment to welcoming Sweden to NATO as soon as possible,” according to a White House readout of their conversation.
