US President Joe Biden kicked off his three-nation Europe trip with a visit to London on Sunday. The purpose of his trip is to strengthen alliances and address important global issues. His first stop in London includes meetings with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and a visit to King Charles at Windsor Castle. The talks with King Charles are expected to focus on climate initiatives, highlighting the importance of environmental concerns.
Following his meeting with the British Prime Minister, Biden will travel to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. There, he will participate in talks with NATO leaders scheduled for June 11 and 12. The discussions are expected to cover NATO’s support for Kyiv and Sweden’s bid to join the alliance. Unfortunately, Turkey has been blocking Sweden’s membership, raising concerns among some NATO allies such as the UK and Spain. Furthermore, the delivery of cluster munitions to Ukraine, approved by the Biden administration, has also generated controversy and is prompting discussions among NATO members.
After his visit to Lithuania, President Biden will proceed to Finland, the newest member of the NATO alliance. This visit highlights the importance of Finland’s role within NATO and further strengthens the alliance’s presence in the region.
In a recent interview with CNN, President Biden expressed doubts about Ukraine’s readiness for NATO membership. He stated that Ukraine must meet specific qualifications, particularly in terms of democratization and other related issues, before joining the alliance. Biden emphasized that integrating Ukraine into NATO now would potentially lead to a war with Russia. He underscored the need for a rational path and a careful deliberation among NATO leaders to pave the way for Ukraine’s eventual membership. However, until that time comes, the United States is prepared to offer support to Ukraine similar to the assistance it provides to Israel, including security and weaponry.
Meanwhile, during a phone call with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, President Biden expressed support for Sweden’s NATO membership. He called for Sweden to be included in NATO “as soon as possible.” However, Sweden’s bid requires unanimous approval from all member states, including Turkey. Although Turkey acknowledged that Sweden had taken positive steps towards obtaining its support, concerns were raised regarding the continued demonstrations by supporters of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Sweden.
President Biden’s Europe trip aims to strengthen alliances, address critical issues, and reestablish the United States’ commitment to international cooperation. The discussions that will take place during this trip have the potential to shape the future of NATO and the global geopolitical landscape.