Biden To Depart Sunday On Key European Tour, Attend NATO Summit

President Biden will depart Washington this Sunday on a three-country European tour which will include the crucial NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania July 11-12. Biden will meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday to bolster the "close relationship" and formally meet with King Charles III for the first time since his coronation.

• After, the NATO summit, Biden will head to Helsinki, Finland to attend a meeting of Nordic leaders on July 13.
• White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is scheduled to preview the trip from the White House podium at 14:00 ET 19:00 BST:LINK
• The most pressing questions for Biden in Vilnius will be, what kind of long-term security guarantees NATO can give to Ukraine and what new capabilities will be provided in the next security assistance package?
• Russia hawks in NATO are calling for Kyiv's membership in NATO to be fast-tracked. More cautious members, including Germany and France, would prefer the question to be punted to next year’s summit in Washington.
• Kyiv wants a timeline on the provision on advanced fighter planes and a firm commitment on long-term support.