Biden’s European Visit Aims to Strengthen NATO Against Russian Actions in Ongoing Ukrainian Conflict

President Joe Biden is preparing for a trip to Europe this week, where he will visit three countries in an effort to enhance the international coalition against Russian aggression amid the continued war in Ukraine, which has now entered its second year.

The primary focus of Biden’s five-day visit will be attending the annual NATO summit, scheduled to take place in Vilnius, Lithuania, this year. Additionally, he has planned stops in Helsinki, Finland, to commemorate the country’s recent entry into the 31-nation military alliance in April, and in Britain, as announced by the White House on Sunday.

Biden’s journey will commence on the following Sunday in London, where he is scheduled to meet with King Charles III at Windsor Castle the next day, as confirmed by Buckingham Palace. The president had previously delegated the representation of the United States at Charles’s coronation in May to First Lady Jill Biden. In June, Biden welcomed British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to the White House, and both leaders expressed their commitment to continued cooperation in defense of Ukraine.

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Sunak’s office expressed anticipation for Biden’s visit and stated that the upcoming meeting would build upon previous interactions.

The NATO summit arrives at a crucial moment in the ongoing conflict. Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reports that counteroffensive and defensive actions against Russian forces are underway, with Ukrainian troops initiating the recapture of territory in the southeastern part of the country, as confirmed by military leaders.

Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary-General of NATO, visited the White House on June 13, during which he and Biden emphasized the alliance’s united stance in defending Ukraine. Biden mentioned that he and other NATO leaders are committed to ensuring that each member country meets the requirement of spending 2% of its gross domestic product on defense.

“The NATO allies have never been more united. We both worked tirelessly to achieve this, and so far, we are making good progress,” Biden stated alongside Stoltenberg, who is expected to extend his term for another year. “We see our collective strength in modernizing NATO’s relationship and providing defense support to Ukraine.”

Finland’s entrance into NATO in April effectively doubled Russia’s border with the largest security alliance in the world. Biden has emphasized the strengthened NATO alliance as a clear signal of diminishing Russian influence.

Sweden is also seeking NATO membership, but endorsement from alliance members Turkey and Hungary is still pending. As a show of solidarity, Biden will host Sweden’s Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, at the White House on Wednesday, as the United States advocates for Sweden’s inclusion in NATO.

Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has voiced concerns about Sweden’s approach to handling terrorist groups and security threats. Stoltenberg has confirmed that Sweden has met its membership obligations by enacting stricter anti-terrorist laws and implementing other measures.

Hungary’s objections to Sweden’s NATO membership have been less defined, but they have expressed discontent with Sweden’s criticism of democratic backsliding and the erosion of the rule of law. While Hungary provides humanitarian aid to Ukraine, it seeks to maintain a balance in its relationship between NATO and Russia, as Budapest heavily relies on Russia for energy requirements.

The admission of a new member country into the alliance requires ratification from all member nations.

The White House has emphasized that Sweden has fulfilled its commitments for NATO membership and has urged a prompt acceptance into the alliance.

Contributors to this report: Sylvia Hui in London and Colleen Long from Big Big News.

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More about NATO, Russian aggression, Ukraine, European trip

• NATO Official Website
• White House: Remarks by President Biden and Secretary-General Stoltenberg of NATO
• CNN: Biden to visit Europe to strengthen NATO against Russian aggression
• BBC News: Biden to meet King Charles on European trip
• Reuters: Finland joins NATO, doubles Russia’s border with alliance
• The Guardian: Sweden seeks US backing for NATO membership bid
• Associated Press: NATO chief visits White House amid Ukraine conflict