Praises him for working with NATO on Sweden and Finland.
President Joe Biden commended Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday for the agreement signed with Sweden and Finland regarding those two nations’ application to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
“I want to particularly thank you for what you did putting together the situation with regard to Finland and Sweden, and all the incredible work you’re doing to try to get the grain out of Ukraine,” President Biden told President Erdogan during a one-on-one meeting on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Madrid. “You’re doing a great job.”
The Turkish president said he believed both leaders “will be able to go back to our countries with full satisfaction” after the summit. He also stated President Biden’s leadership was “crucial in strengthening NATO for the future.”
Sweden and Finland have now formally been invited to join the alliance.
There have been reports that the U.S. could announce a deal to sell upgraded F-16 fighter jets to Turkey as part of an effort to persuade Ankara to support the accession of Sweden and Finland. A senior U.S. defense official indicated on Wednesday that the U.S. is willing to sell F-16s to Turkey.
“The United States supports Turkey’s modernization of its fighter fleet because that is a contribution to NATO security and therefore American security,” Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander said during a briefing.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For discernment for the president and members of Congress as Sweden and Finland are invited to join the NATO alliance.
- For the president and his advisors to seek God’s wisdom on foreign policy.
- For Secretary Austin and Assistant Secretary of Defense Wallander as they evaluate international security.
Sources: The Hill, Reuters, Washington Examiner
