Biden to host Swedish PM for NATO, Ukraine talks
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According to the White House, Biden and the Swedish Premier will reaffirm views that Sweden should hastily join the Atlantic Alliance.
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Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristerson delivers a speech on September 11, 2022. (AP)
According to the White House, US President Joe Biden will meet with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson next week to discuss transatlantic security cooperation and the Ukraine conflict.
The two presidents "will review our growing security cooperation and reaffirm their view that Sweden should join NATO as soon as possible," according to a statement released by the White House ahead of the July 5 meeting.
Sweden requested membership in NATO in May 2022, three months after the war in Ukraine began, but Turkey and Hungary stalled its application, which must be confirmed by all 31 member nations.
Western officials wanted to formally welcome Sweden into NATO by the time the NATO summit convened in Lithuania on July 11-12.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced Sweden for allowing the burning of the Holy Quran on more than one occasion further clouding the Nordic nation's chances of quickly joining NATO.
Read more: Adding insult to injury, Swedish PM says 'no need to insult' others
"We will eventually teach the arrogant Westerners that insulting Muslims is not freedom of thought," Erdogan said during televised remarks.
Erdogan's tough statements came only one week before senior officials from Turkey and Sweden are expected to meet in Brussels to discuss Stockholm's NATO membership application.
According to the White House, the leaders will also discuss their support for Ukraine against Russia, as well as speak in detail about transatlantic coordination on China, climate change, and upcoming technologies.
Yesterday, Kristersson emphasized that it was still too early to predict the outcome of this week's events.
"I think we should focus on the right things now. It's important that Sweden becomes a member of NATO. We have important and large issues to deal with," he said.
