The NPR Politics Podcast Biden Scores Big Wins In Baltics
Jul 13, 2023
The podcast dives into President Biden's pivotal role at the NATO summit in Vilnius, especially regarding Sweden's potential membership. It highlights Turkey's surprising shift in stance, paving the way for progress. The discussion also covers NATO’s new mandate for defense spending, influenced by the ongoing war in Ukraine. Additionally, it navigates the varied U.S. political opinions on military aid and Ukraine's aspirations, shedding light on shifting dynamics among NATO allies as they confront the challenges of European security.
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Biden's Presence at the Summit
- Biden looked amazing at the summit and was the big man on campus.
- He kept aid flowing to Ukraine without escalating the war with Russia.
Sweden's NATO Accession
- Turkey had blocked Sweden's NATO accession over concerns about a Kurdish group.
- Turkey dropped its opposition after Sweden made legal changes regarding the group.
NATO Spending Target Change
- NATO countries previously struggled to meet the 2% GDP spending target on defense.
- This 2% is now the floor, not the ceiling, largely due to Putin's invasion of Ukraine.