On Monday, Biden spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to congratulate him on his re-election. Biden told reporters that Erdogan reiterated Ankara’s desire to buy F-16 fighter jets from the United States, and Biden urged Ankara to drop its opposition to Sweden joining NATO.
In his speech, Biden said NATO is stronger despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attempt to break the alliance by invading Ukraine. He said the alliance would be further strengthened by the inclusion of Finland “and soon Sweden”.
It will happen, I promise”
– he said, but did not give details. On Monday, Biden said he would speak with Erdogan again soon. The annual NATO summit is held in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday urged Turkey to immediately end Sweden’s NATO membership, saying the country had already taken important steps to address Ankara’s objections to membership.
The White House denied that Biden was pressing for a deal with Turkey to raise its resistance in exchange for the F-16s.
