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Karen Erickson: Biden likes to brag about Sweden

In an appearance to fighter pilots at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, US President Joe Biden hailed NATO’s newfound unity and strength. He stated that Sweden would soon become part of the Defense Alliance.

– it will happen. The boss said I promise.

Then make headlines by tripping over a sandbag at the end of the ceremony.

Did you even stumble on words?

Find sandbags.

Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP

At the beginning of the week, Joe Biden said he congratulated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his victory in the presidential election. He stated that Erdoğan had raised his desire to buy F16s from the United States, and that he had stated that the United States wanted to see a settlement over Sweden.

city ​​police Anthony Blinken went to Luleå and did his best to push away fighter jets and the discussion about Sweden’s membership in NATO. He said they were two different processes, though he stressed that both were important to Europe’s security. He then added that some politicians in Congress have a different opinion.

In early February, 29 senators—mostly Democrats, but also some Republicans—sent a letter to the White House. They urged President Joe Biden to stop selling the F16 to Turkey, until Ankara agrees to Finland and Sweden’s membership in NATO.

It is a hidden secret that Washington could pave the way for Sweden in NATO by giving Erdogan what he wants most – American warplanes. CNN quoted administration sources on Thursday Which admits there is clear scope for a behind-the-scenes deal.

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But Blinken diplomat. Biden is Biden.

On tours around Turkey and Sweden, they have slightly different starting points – at least on the outside.

Blinken i Luleå.

Photo: Lars Lindqvist

The foreign minister has always stressed that negotiations over Sweden’s membership in NATO will not be a deal between Ankara and Washington. The US State Department does not want to end up in regular negotiations with the admittedly eccentric Erdogan. Then Ankara’s list of demands could suddenly swell.

Blinken also understands that there are Erdogan critics in Congress who see further obstacles to the F16 deal. Bob Menendez, who chairs the powerful Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, told the political site Politico earlier this week that Sweden’s NATO membership is only part of the equation and that Turkey’s hostility toward NATO’s neighbor Greece is another important issue.

Joe Biden, President And the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Armed Forces, has just begun his campaign for re-election. Foreign policy does not usually dominate US presidential elections, but opponent Donald Trump is trying to make criticism of the US’s heavy support for Ukraine an important electoral issue. Joe Biden can argue that he has made good on his promise to improve America’s standing in the world.

After the conquest of Ukraine, he early saw the opportunity to write history. Meeting with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto at the White House in early March last year, the US president literally picked up the phone – a conventional telephone with a cord and a key – and called the then Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson. At the time, the Swedish Social Democrats had no plans to join NATO, but the transition came quickly.

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Diplomacy in all its glory. Biden will likely boast that he helped open the door for Sweden into NATO, if and when the prophecy from Colorado Springs comes true. It is clear that the president is willing to risk his prestige in bringing the negotiations to an impasse.