NATO notched a significant breakthrough late Monday — just hours before the start of a two-day summit in Vilnius — when Turkey agreed to stop blocking Sweden’s bid to join the defense alliance.
The enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s northern flank heralds one of the most prominent changes in the European security landscape after Russia’s aggression led to shifts including a ramp-up of defense spending in Germany and plans to bring back conscription in France.
US President Joe Biden will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later Tuesday, when the two will likely discuss Turkey’s request to purchase F-16s. He also plans to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
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All times local in Vilnius, CET + 1 hour:
UK Signs Defense Contract With BAE Systems (9:31 a.m.)
The UK has signed a new £190 million ($245 million) contact with BAE Systems PLC to produce more artillery shells for use by Britain and its allies. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday will confirm that the UK’s production capacity of 155mm artillery ammunition has increased eight-fold, allowing it to replenish its stockpiles due to the injection of an extra £5 billion in funding over the last year.
Sunak will push for further joint NATO efforts to increase shared capacity of missile and ammunition production at the summit in Vilnius, according to a UK government statement.
Biden Looks to Move Forward With F-16 Sale to Turkey (9:05 a.m.)
The US will progress with Turkey’s request to purchase F-16s, according to US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. US President Joe Biden will meet with Erdogan later Tuesday.
“Biden has been clear and unequivocal — for months he supported the transfer of F-16s,” Sulllivan told reporters on Tuesday. “He has placed no caveats or conditions on that and he intends to move forward.”
Congress must approve significant U.S. arms sales to foreign allies and a bipartisan group of senators had told Biden earlier this year that lawmakers shouldn’t consider the $20 billion sale of warplanes until the country ratifies Sweden’s membership.
Back in Washington, Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Robert Menendez, one of the biggest holdouts, appeared to be softening his position on Monday when quizzed by journalists. He said “there may be a path forward” in the “next week.”
Turkey Says It Will Back Sweden’s NATO Accession (9:05 a.m.)
Turkey agreed to support Sweden’s NATO bid in a major breakthrough for the military alliance’s push to strengthen its defenses following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Turkey will ask its parliament to advance Sweden’s membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization “as soon as possible,” alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg told reporters Monday in Vilnius.
“Completing Sweden’s accession to NATO is a historic step that benefits the security of all NATO allies at this critical time,” Stoltenberg said in Vilnius. “I will not give you the exact dates for that. But this is a clear commitment.”
US Says NATO to Agree to Boost Defense Spending (9:05 a.m.)
NATO leaders will agree to strengthen the alliance’s goal for defense spending, as countries prioritize revitalizing an industry that has been neglected for years.
“We will agree 2% should be a floor, not a ceiling,” Sullivan told reporters in Vilnius Tuesday, adding that the US and allies will agree to spend more.
--With assistance from Milda Seputyte, Jennifer Jacobs, Daniel Flatley, Arne Delfs, Daryna Krasnolutska, Andra Timu, Kitty Donaldson and Niclas Rolander.
Author: Natalia Drozdiak, Justin Sink and Selcan Hacaoglu