President Biden Vows to Defend NATO Territory During Visit to Finland
President Biden arrived in Helsinki on Thursday for a news conference, where he made a strong commitment to defend every inch of NATO’s territory. This visit comes after a meeting with NATO leaders in Vilnius, Lithuania, where unity in support of Ukraine was emphasized.
Describing the world as facing a pivotal moment in history, President Biden highlighted the importance of the decisions made now, which will determine the course of history for decades to come. He portrayed this moment as an inflection point and called for hard work and unity to create a better future.
Finland’s recent entry into NATO serves as a rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who cited the alliance’s eastward expansion as justification for the invasion of Ukraine. President Biden assured Finland that the United States is committed to defending every inch of NATO territory, including Finland’s.
The issue of Ukraine joining NATO was also addressed at the summit in Vilnius. While member nations expressed strong support for Ukraine’s membership, no framework was provided regarding the timing or process of its inclusion.
In an interesting development, President Biden offered some advice to Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner forces who rebelled against the Russian military. Referring to Prigozhin’s past as a caterer for Putin, President Biden warned him to be careful about what he ate.
During the news conference, President Biden was asked about efforts to free Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter who has been declared “wrongfully detained” by the United States. He expressed seriousness about negotiating a prisoner exchange and emphasized the ongoing process to free Americans illegally held in Russia or elsewhere.
President Biden had talks with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto before attending a summit with other Nordic leaders, including the prime ministers of Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden. He is expected to return to Washington after the final news conference with President Niinisto.
Regarding Sweden’s expectations of joining NATO, Turkey recently dropped its objections, raising hopes for a rapid accession. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested that the necessary vote in the Turkish Parliament might not happen before October. He also mentioned that Sweden needs to win over a majority of lawmakers, indicating potential hurdles before the deal is finalized.
Finland and Sweden jointly sought to join NATO last year, abandoning their longstanding policies of military nonalignment due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Turkey initially obstructed the process, citing concerns about Sweden’s alleged harboring of Kurdish militants and other individuals it considers terrorists. Finland proceeded with its bid separately and became a NATO member in April.
Overall, President Biden’s visit to Finland reaffirms the United States’ commitment to NATO and underlines the alliance’s renewed energy in the face of Russian aggression.