Nordic Leaders Arrive In Washington For White House Meetings

Today is another key day in Sweden and Finland's NATO application process.

• 09:00 ET 14:00 BST: Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö arrive at the White House.
• At 09:15ET 14:15 BST: The leaders discuss 'Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO applications and European security' with US President Joe Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris at WH.
• 10:30 ET 15:30 BST: The leaders will deliver a joint press conference. Livestream here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/
• The primary obstacle to NATO accession for the two countries is an ongoing Turkish objection over alleged support of Kurdish groups designated by Anakara as terrorist organisations.
• It is unclear whether the objection is credible or if Turkey is leveraging its NATO veto to extract concessions from the US. Yesterday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and said in a statement that 'Turkey’s security concerns should be also met.'
• NYT: Niinisto said yesterday that the Turks 'have communicated to us from many sources that Turkey would not block membership.'
• US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin met with Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist yesterday to discuss interim security.
• Following the meeting, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said: 'The United States is prepared to send a very clear message, as are all of our European allies, that we will not tolerate any aggression against Finland or Sweden during this process.' Suggesting that an interim security provision has been arranged, and may be announced at the White House today.
• In Europe: 12:45 ET 17:45 BST: US Gen. Tod Wolters, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, will speak at a press conference at the NATO Military Chiefs of Defense Meeting in Brussels, Belgium. The Press will be streamed here: https://www.defense.gov/News/Live-Events/