Biden And Erdogan Hold Call Ahead Of NATO Summit

US President Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Erdogan have held a call ahead of the NATO summit which kicks off this evening in Madrid, Spain.

• The call is the latest in a charm offensive by NATO leaders to convince Erdogan to drop his block on the NATO membership bids of Sweden and Finland before the key summit.
• According to CNN's DJ Judd, Erdogan told reporters after the call: "He [Biden] asked to get together again tonight or tomorrow and we said ‘possible’."
• The White House said of the call: "President Biden noted he looks forward to seeing President Erdogan at the NATO Summit in Madrid where leaders will discuss the consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine for Transatlantic security and other threats to the Alliance such as terrorism, as well as take historic decisions to strengthen the Alliance's collective defense and security."
• Yesterday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg held a joint presser with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson to announce broad measures to combat terrorism and address the "legitimate" security concerns of Turkey.
• Jack Detsch of Foreign Policy writes: "Challenges surrounding their potential membership will likely come to a head in Madrid, with Erdogan expected to attempt to push through a number of his demands."
• Detsch quotes a European official: "Turkey saw great leverage in the Finland and Sweden request. They are trying to maximize this in the way that they always do."