US President Biden welcomes Turkey’s agreement to support Sweden’s NATO bid

Washington DC: US ​​President Joe Biden on Monday (local time) welcomed his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s commitment to transmit the accession protocol for Sweden to Turkey’s Grand National Assembly for speedy ratification. Biden expressed a desire to work with Erdogan and Turkey on increasing defense and deterrence. He said he looked forward to welcoming Sweden as America’s 32nd North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally. He thanked NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for his “resolute leadership”.

A statement released by the White House quoted Biden as saying, “I welcome the statement issued this evening by Turkey, Sweden and the NATO Secretary-General calling for the accession protocol for Sweden to be broadcast to Turkey’s Grand National Assembly.” Including the commitment of President Erdogan.” for speedy approval.”

“I look forward to working with President Erdogan and Turkey on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic region. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Christerson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO ally. I thank him for his steadfast leadership.” he added. Biden’s statement came after the NATO secretary-general announced that Turkey has agreed to support Sweden’s bid to become a member of the military alliance. He spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf It was announced after meeting with Christerson.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Stoltenberg said, “I am pleased to announce that, as a result, President Erdogan has agreed to forward the accession protocol to the Grand National Assembly for Sweden as soon as possible. And Will work closely with the assembly.” Be sure to ratify.” Responding to a question on when Sweden could be expected to officially become part of NATO, Stoltenberg was unwilling to answer, and said it was up to Turkey to make the announcement, reports CNN. dependent and he preferred to concentrate on the merits of the decision.

“I think we have to respect that each parliament has its own integrity, its own time frame, so I welcome that the president has made it clear that he will work with parliament to ensure ratification,” he said. Will work, but exactly when is to be announced by the Turkish Parliament.” Stoltenberg said the announcement was the result of a year of negotiations.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Sweden and Turkey worked together to address Ankara’s “legitimate security concerns”. He added that Sweden has amended tis laws and expanded its counter-terrorism cooperation against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and resumed arms exports to Turkey. He said that Turkey and Sweden have agreed to establish a new bilateral security agreement.

The announcement comes after months of protests and demands from Turkey on Sweden’s NATO bid. According to the CNN report, Turkey had said that Sweden allows members of Kurdish terrorist groups to operate in the country. On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Brussels should clear the way for Turkey to join the European Union before his country approves Sweden’s bid for NATO membership, CNN reported.

Addressing a news conference, Erdogan said, according to CNN, “First, let’s clear the way for Turkey in the European Union, then clear the way for Sweden, just like we cleared the way for Finland.” Erdogan insisted that now was the time to act on Turkey’s bid to become part of the EU, adding that “Turkey has been waiting at the door of the EU for more than 50 years” and that “almost all NATO members The countries are European member states.”