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Joe Biden congratulates Türkiye, Sweden, Finland on NATO memorandum
US President Joe Biden congratulated Türkiye, Sweden and Finland on Tuesday (June 28) after the three nations agreed on a memorandum that paved the way for the two Nordic nations' accession to NATO, the Anadolu Agency reported.
Biden wrote on Twitter: "Congratulations to Finland, Sweden, and Turkey on signing a trilateral memorandum – a crucial step towards a NATO invite to Finland and Sweden, which will strengthen our Alliance and bolster our collective security – and a great way to begin the Summit.”
The US President said Finland and Sweden are strong democracies with capable militaries and their membership will strengthen NATO’s collective security.
Earlier, Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto and Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson met to discuss the Nordic nations' membership and Ankara’s concerns.
On Tuesday (June 28), Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said that Türkiye has agreed to support Finland and Sweden's NATO membership bids, removing a major hurdle to the two countries joining the alliance.
It was followed by the signing of a memorandum between the three nations addressing one another's concerns in joining the alliance.
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In a statement, Niintso said that a joint memorandum on the matter was signed by Türkiye, Finland, and Sweden in Madrid. The joint memorandum underscores the commitment of Finland, Sweden, and Türkiye "to extend their full support against threats to each other's security," Niinisto said as quoted by CNN.
He added: "The concrete steps of our accession to NATO will be agreed by the NATO allies during the next two days, but that decision is now imminent.”
Sweden and Finland formally applied to join the alliance last month, a decision spurred by Russia's war on Ukraine.
US President recalled Finland's President Sauli Niinisto and Sweden Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson's visit to the White House and said that they strongly support their membership.
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President Biden said in a statement: "Their membership will strengthen NATO's collective security and benefit the entire Transatlantic Alliance. I look forward to working with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg, our Allies, and with Congress to ensure that we can quickly welcome them into our Alliance.”
He added: "As we begin this historic NATO Summit in Madrid, our Alliance is stronger, more united, and more resolute than ever.”
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