President Joe Biden praisesTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for lifting his objections to Sweden and Finland joining NATO

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden commended Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for dropping his opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO as well as for his efforts to get grain out of the Ukraine.

Biden told him, “You’re doing a great job.”

Additionally, the Biden administration hinted that it supported the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara, which has been a longtime goal of the Turkish government.

Strong Turkish defense capabilities would strengthen NATO’s defenses, according to Celeste Wallander, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs at the Pentagon, who also said that the F-16 sales plan was making its way through the legal system.

The modernization of Turkey’s fighter fleet is supported by the United States because it will strengthen NATO security and subsequently American security, according to the official.

“These plans are being developed. Additionally, they must go through our contracting procedures, she continued.

In October, Turkey requested to purchase 40 F-16 fighters made by Lockheed Martin as well as nearly 80 modernization kits for its current warplanes.

On Wednesday, Biden and Erdogan met outside the NATO meeting.

Without mentioning the F-16s, he thanked him for agreeing to Finland and Sweden joining the alliance.

Erdogan promised to raise the matter with the president before the summit.

In particular, Biden thanked him for organizing the situation with Finland and Sweden and for all the amazing work he was doing to try to get the grain out of Ukraine. You are doing a fantastic job,

Ankara has promised to look into claims that grain stolen from Ukraine by Russia was being sold to Turkish buyers.

Nearly a third of the world’s wheat supply comes from Russia and Ukraine, but Russia has been preventing Ukraine from shipping the grain out of its ports, causing a global food crisis.

In the coming weeks, Turkey also intends to invite representatives from Russia, Ukraine, and the UN for negotiations aimed at restarting the export of the grain that is now stranded in Black Sea ports.

In the meantime, American officials rebuffed any claims that Washington was supporting the F-16 request after Turkey dropped its threat to use its veto power to block Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO.

According to a senior administration official, as part of its arrangement with Finland and Sweden, “the U.S. did not offer anything to Turkey and was not requested for anything by Turkey.”

The official stated that continued technical discussions over Turkey’s bid to purchase American F-16 fighter fighters were being held by U.S. officials. Any sales will be subject to final approval by Congress.

Sweden and Finland were formally asked to join NATO on Wednesday.

“The inclusion of Finland and Sweden will strengthen NATO and increase security throughout the Euro-Atlantic region.

The Alliance places a high priority on Finland and Sweden’s security, including during the application process, according to a statement from NATO.

The two Nordic nations’ inclusion will be the largest enlargement of the alliance since the 1990s when the post-Soviet bloc nations were admitted; nevertheless, the admission must be authorized by each of NATO’s 30 ally parliaments.

It occurs as a more aggressive Russia casts a shadow over Europe. The eastern edge of the alliance is being reinforced by armed forces led by President Joe Biden.

On Wednesday, Biden claimed that European integration into NATO is exactly what Russian President Vladimir Putin did not want.

Biden praised the diplomatic achievement that led to Turkey withdrawing its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining the alliance and claimed that it will make Europe stronger.

As soon as Biden arrived at NATO headquarters on Wednesday morning, he met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and declared, “Putin was hoping for the Finland-ization of Europe and we’re going to get the NATO-zation of Europe.”

And yet, that is precisely what needed to be done to ensure Europe’s security—exactly what he did not want to do.

And I believe that’s essential, so I’m hoping it happens,” the president remarked.

The revelation was met with a furious response from Moscow, which claimed that NATO expansion will “destabilize” Europe.

“We view the North Atlantic alliance’s growth as a totally destabilizing factor in world events.”

Neither those who are growing the alliance, those who are joining it, nor other nations that view the alliance as a threat are made to feel any safer, according to deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov.

Tuesday night, following several rounds of negotiations, Turkey decided not to oppose to the two Nordic countries entering the alliance.

That evening, Stoltenberg made the announcement, saying, “I am glad to announce we now have an agreement that lays the road for Finland and Sweden to join NATO.”

“A pact has been agreed by Turkey, Finland, and Sweden that addresses Turkey’s concerns, especially those related to arms exports and the battle against terrorism,” he continued.

As Europe experiences its biggest security crisis in decades in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the three states vowed to defend each other’s security.

Turkey objected, requesting that Sweden and Finland end their backing of Kurdish militant groups operating on their soil and ease their restrictions on some arms sales to Turkey.

According to the agreement, Stockholm would step up its efforts to address Turkish requests for the extradition of alleged terrorists, and Finland and Sweden will both try to alter their legislation to take a more severe stance against them.

According to Stoltenberg, both Nordic countries would relax their bans on supplying arms to Turkey.

Finland and Sweden are now prepared to join the alliance with well-trained troops. Finland and Russia share an 810-mile border.

According to NATO treaties, an attack on one member would be seen as an attack against all, and the entire alliance would launch a military response.

Before the agreement was struck on Tuesday morning, President Biden spoke with Erdogan.

In order for the president to “be able to engage directly with President Erdogan about the membership application to Finland and Sweden and to encourage him to seize this chance and get this done,” a senior administration official explained that conversation was made.

According to the official, Biden made the contact at Sweden’s and Finland’s request.

The official requested anonymity so that they could speak openly to reporters on Tuesday night as they discussed President Biden’s role in the procedure.

According to the official, President Biden preferred to place the final weight on the scale to ensure success rather than interject during negotiations.

“We have been very diligent and have rejected the notion that the United States wanted to act as a middleman. That would not be beneficial, we did not believe,” the official added.

The accord is seen as a success by the Biden administration.

The senior administration source added, “This obviously is really a huge shot in the arm for allied unity and also, you know, a historic moment for the Alliance to previously neutral countries choosing to sign up for NATO and being welcomed by NATO.”

In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Sweden and Finland submitted applications to join NATO.

Since former Soviet bloc nations joined the alliance in 1999, this is the alliance’s largest expansion.