WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden has announced plans for a diplomatic trip to Europe later this month, which will include visits to the United Kingdom (UK), attendance at the NATO summit in Lithuania, and meetings in Finland, according to a statement released by the White House on Sunday.
The trip is scheduled to commence on July 9, with President Biden’s arrival in the United Kingdom. During his visit, he is expected to hold meetings with King Charles III and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Following his time in the UK, President Biden will travel to Vilnius for the NATO summit, set to take place on July 11-12. Subsequently, he will make a one-day visit to Helsinki to participate in the US-Nordic Leaders Summit.
Sweden’s NATO Membership Bid
The announcement comes as the White House prepares to welcome Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Washington next week for discussions regarding Sweden’s aspirations to join NATO. It follows recent remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who expressed a desire for his country to receive an “invitation” to join NATO after the ongoing conflict with Russia, emphasizing the importance of a clear signal of support from the upcoming Vilnius summit.
Sweden formally requested to join NATO in May 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, its membership bid has faced opposition from Turkey and Hungary, both of which must ratify the decision along with all other member states. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously criticized Sweden over a controversial protest where a man burned pages from the Koran, creating further obstacles for Sweden’s accession to NATO.
President Biden’s visit to the UK aims to strengthen the close relationship between the two nations, according to the White House statement. More details about the trip are expected to be announced in due course.
