In an interview ahead of this week’s NATO meeting in Lithuania, President Biden noted that Ukraine would not become a member while the country was an active warzone. Image source: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.
In an interview with CNN, US President Joe Biden cautioned Ukraine’s continued requests to join NATO as the military alliance would likely be drawn into the war with Russia, due to NTO’s mutual defense pact.
The interview came ahead of a NATO summit in Lithuania, with key issues including the war in Ukraine, and Zelensky’s drive for NATO membership.
“I don’t think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war,” said Biden.
He reiterated the importance of NATO’s defense pact, “We’re determined to commit every inch of territory that is NATO territory. It’s a commitment that we’ve all made no matter what. If the war is going on, then we’re all in war. We’re at war with Russia, if that were the case.”
However, Biden didn’t rule out Ukraine becoming a member of NATO in the future.
“I think we have to lay out a rational path for Ukraine to be able to qualify to be able to get into NATO,” he said, noting that the alliance refused Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demands leading up to the war for a commitment not to admit Ukraine into the alliance.
Sweden’s potential NATO membership is also continues to face hurdles, as Türkiye (Turkey) and Hungary resist its inclusion. Türkiye in particular has been critical of Sweden, due to its support of Kurdish militants who are in conflict with Türkiye.
Biden remained optimistic that Sweden would gain the final votes needed to become a NATO member, particularly as Türkiye seeks assistance to modernise its fleet of F-16 fighter jets.
Biden also stated that he believes the US can have a working relationship with China, despite his belief that Chinese President Xi Jingping aims for his country to replace the US as the largest economy and military force in the world.
“He talks about nuclear war being a disaster, there is such a thing as security that’s needed,” said Biden of Xi. “So, I think there’s a way we can work through this.”
