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 Russia invaded Ukraine, but Turkey and Hungary have stalled its application, which must be ratified by all 31 member states.
Western officials wanted to formally welcome Sweden into NATO by the time the NATO summit convened in Lithuania on July 11-12.
However, earlier this week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan chastised Sweden for tolerating a protest in which a man burnt Koran pages, casting further doubt on the Nordic country’s chances of soon joining the military alliance.
Biden and Kristersson will also “discuss our shared commitment to supporting Ukraine in the face of Russia’s brutal war of aggression,” according to the White House.
They will also discuss transatlantic cooperation in areas such as China, climate change, and emerging technology.
