President Joe Biden will welcome Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to the White House on Wednesday, expressing US solidarity in advocating for Sweden’s inclusion in NATO. This meeting takes place one week before the alliance’s summit.
Biden and Kristersson are set to “assess their expanding security cooperation and mutually affirm that Sweden’s prompt admission to NATO is essential,” according to a White House statement. Additionally, they will converse on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, incited by Russia, and issues concerning China.
Sweden and its neighbouring country, Finland, renounced their longstanding non-aligned military policy following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, seeking refuge under NATO’s security shield by applying for membership.
While Finland, which shares an extensive border of over 800 miles (or 1,300 kilometres) with Russia, joined NATO in April, Sweden’s admission, despite a two-century-long tradition of steering clear of military alliances, has been deferred due to opposition from Turkey and Hungary. This is due to NATO’s requirement for unanimous approval from all member states for expansion.
The anticipated ease of Sweden’s entry before the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11-12 has been thwarted, despite its symbolic significance and reflection of Russia’s war’s impact on nations joining the alliance.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has opposed Sweden’s membership, blaming the country for being too lenient towards groups that Turkey believes to be security threats, including Kurdish militant groups and individuals related to the 2016 attempted coup in Turkey. Erdogan has recently condemned Sweden over a Quran-burning demonstration permitted by the Swedish police citing freedom of speech, despite a previously overturned ban on a similar protest.
NATO’s Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, plans to convene a meeting with high-ranking officials from Turkey, Sweden, and Finland on Thursday to overcome Turkey’s objections.
Hungary, another nation yet to ratify Sweden’s membership, has delayed a parliamentary vote until the upcoming autumn legislative session.
The Hungarian government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has accused Swedish politicians of spreading “blatant lies” about the state of Hungarian democracy. Despite this, senior Hungarian officials have expressed their support for Sweden’s bid for NATO membership, although they have also implied specific demands from Sweden as prerequisites for approval.
As geopolitical tensions escalate, the resolution of Sweden’s entry into NATO is increasingly significant. The discourse between President Biden and Prime Minister Kristersson reflects the world’s evolving landscape, showcasing the challenges and opportunities on the road to NATO expansion. How the dialogue unfolds with Turkey and Hungary in the upcoming weeks could redefine the geopolitical alignments, providing an insightful preview of the world’s response to Russia’s aggressive military policies.
