Secretary of State Antony Blinken calls for Sweden's membership at meeting with NATO chief
June 13 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden and outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reaffirmed their support for Ukraine and the NATO alliance during a meeting at the White House on Tuesday as they prepared for next month's NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Biden began Tuesday's meeting with an apology to Stoltenberg for having to reschedule due to a dental procedure, and congratulations for his work as NATO Secretary General. Advertisement
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"Your leadership in the alliance has through -- been through a really significant period, in terms of dealing with NATO's relationship with Ukraine. And, you know, I think you've done an incredible job," Biden said. "Your friendship and leadership has meant a great deal."
Stoltenberg also thanked Biden for his "new announcement of additional U.S. support" for Ukraine after Secretary of State Antony Blinken teased a new package of defense aid to be unveiled at next month's summit.
"The support that we are providing together to Ukraine is now making a difference on the battlefield as we speak, because the offensive is launched, and the Ukrainians are making progress, making advances," Stoltenberg said.
Stoltenberg urged allies to continue to support Ukraine because it is in the best "security interest" for the world.
"Russia's brutal invasion of -- of Ukraine was not only an attack on Ukraine, but also on our core values and free people everywhere. And therefore, President Putin must not win this war," Stoltenberg warned. "It will send a message to authoritarian leaders all over the world, also in China, that when they use military force, they get what they want."
Both Biden and Stoltenberg looked ahead to the NATO Summit, where they hope to gain more allied support for Ukraine.
"We'll agree to sustain and step up our support to Ukraine, further strengthen our deterrence on defense, including new commitment to invest in more defense. And I expect allies to agree to 2% of GDP for defense has to be a minimum of what allies have to invest in shared security," Stoltenberg said.
While Biden agreed with Stoltenberg's 2% figure, he also touted Finland's "recent assession into NATO" and looked forward to Sweden joining the alliance as soon as possible.
"We've strengthened NATO's eastern flank, made it clear that we'll defend every inch of NATO territory," Biden said. "And I say it again: The commitment of the United States to NATO's Article 5 is rock solid."
NATO's Article 5 calls for all members to take action to assist a NATO ally if it is the victim of an armed attack, as Ukraine has been since Russia's invasion last year.
Before his meeting with the president, Stoltenberg met with Blinken to also discuss Ukraine and the upcoming NATO Summit.
"Because of his (Stoltenberg) strong and steady hand, our alliance is stronger and it's more unified than it's ever been," Blinken said during the brief exchange Tuesday at the State Department.
"And I think we can say with conviction, that you will see at the summit the alliance reaffirm its commitment, of course its shared commitment of defending every inch of NATO territory," Blinken said Tuesday.
Blinken also said the time is right for Sweden to join NATO, after its neighbor Finland officially became the alliance's 31st member in April.
"We believe as well that now is the time to welcome Sweden as the next member of the alliance after having had an important, and I think very appropriate process...to address appropriate concerns," Blinken told reporters.
The Vilnius Summit is scheduled to take place July 11-12 in the Lithuanian capital.
Stoltenberg, who is a former prime minister of Norway and has led NATO for nine years, is scheduled to step down at the end of September. He already has committed to leading Norway's central bank.