NATO’s summit in Vilnius, Lithuania started off with positive momentum as Turkey withdrew its objections to Sweden joining the alliance. This decision by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a significant step towards Sweden’s membership, bringing unity to Western leaders in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The agreement was reached after intensive meetings, providing a boost to NATO’s strength in Northern Europe.
Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser, confidently stated that rumors of NATO’s unity being compromised were greatly exaggerated. As part of the deal, Erdogan has committed to seeking approval from Turkey’s parliament for Sweden’s NATO membership. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, another holdout, is expected to follow suit.
This outcome is seen as a victory for President Joe Biden, who views NATO’s expansion as a direct response to Russia’s failed invasion of Ukraine. Finland has already become the 31st member of the alliance, and Sweden is set to become the 32nd. Both Nordic countries, historically nonaligned, have felt compelled to join due to fears of Russian aggression.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg described the deal on Sweden’s membership as historic, even before the summit began. During a meeting with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, President Biden expressed confidence in Sweden’s path to finalizing its NATO membership and emphasized his commitment to transatlantic cooperation. Nauseda presented Biden with the highest award a Lithuanian president can bestow, the Order of Vytautas the Great, making Biden the first U.S. president to receive this honor.
Biden and Erdogan were scheduled to meet later in the day, where they would address other demands from the Turkish president. These demands included acquiring advanced American fighter jets and a path towards European Union membership. While the White House has expressed support for these demands, they maintain that they are separate from Sweden’s NATO membership.
NATO leaders still have other important issues to address at the summit, such as Ukraine’s desire to join the alliance. Some Baltic states have pushed for strong support and a clear pathway for Ukraine’s membership, but the United States and Germany have been hesitant. Biden has stated that Ukraine isn’t yet ready to join and that there are several qualifications that need to be met. Bringing Ukraine into NATO could also provoke Russia rather than serve as a deterrence.
However, Stoltenberg proposed the formation of a NATO-Ukraine Council to upgrade political ties and facilitate crisis consultation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to attend the summit and meet with Biden. Both leaders have reiterated that Ukraine will eventually become a NATO member, although they have not provided specific details.
Despite these challenges, NATO leaders remain committed to demonstrating their unity and resilience against Russian provocations. Biden’s visit to Europe, which includes the NATO summit, serves as a crucial opportunity to strengthen diplomatic ties and address key international issues.
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