Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, President of T?rkiye (Turkey), spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden on the 9th (local time) to discuss Sweden's NATO membership and T?rkiye's purchase of F-16 fighter jets.
The call came two days before the NATO summit opening on the 11th in Lithuania.
During the 2021 NATO Summit, President Erdogan of Turkiye and President Biden of the United States are greeting each other.
According to major foreign media, the Turkish presidential office disclosed the call between the two leaders, stating, "The focus of the conversation was Ukraine's status in NATO, Sweden's NATO membership, the supply of F-16 fighter jets, and T?rkiye's full membership process in the European Union (EU)."
Erdo?an said, "It is wrong to link T?rkiye's demand for purchasing F-16s with Sweden's NATO membership," but expressed gratitude for President Biden's support for supplying F-16s to T?rkiye.
Sweden, along with Finland, has been pursuing NATO membership since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, but has yet to join the alliance as T?rkiye has delayed ratifying the accession protocol. T?rkiye opposes Sweden's membership, citing Sweden's lenient response to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which T?rkiye designates as a terrorist organization, and Sweden's tolerance of anti-Islam protests. NATO requires unanimous consent from all member countries for new members to join.
President Erdo?an referred to Sweden's recently enacted anti-terrorism law, pointing out that PKK supporters are protesting in Sweden, and said such measures are not helpful.
The two leaders plan to meet in person in Lithuania during the NATO summit to have in-depth discussions on bilateral relations and regional issues.
The White House also stated in a press release that the two leaders discussed regional issues to be considered at the NATO summit. President Biden reportedly expressed his desire for Sweden's NATO membership to happen as soon as possible.
Earlier this month, President Biden reaffirmed his support for Sweden's NATO membership during a meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at the White House.
President Erdo?an is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Kristersson in Vilnius, Lithuania, on the 10th to discuss Sweden's NATO membership. Sweden aims to finalize its accession at the NATO summit held on the 11th and 12th.
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