President Biden says Adding Finland and Sweden to NATO is a Historic Moment Transcript

President Biden and Jens Stoltenberg at the NATO summit.

This summit is already historic, because the agreement we made yesterday will make Sweden a full member of NATO, and that will make our alliance even a more capable of defending all allies. At this meeting, we will also send a clear message to Ukraine that we stand by them as along as needed, and also that we agree on the united and the positive message on the path forward for Ukraine and membership for Ukraine. Another major message from this summit will be that we need to invest more in our defense and we will agree a new defense investment pledge, where we state clearly that 2% of GDP for defense is a minimum. The good news is that European allies and Canada are stepping up. This year, we have new numbers showing that they had added 8.3% in real terms for their defense budgets. This is a record high and that demonstrates that allies are delivering on their commitments. So once again, Mr. President, it’s great to have you here at the NATO summit.

It’s good to be here and thank you. Continue to deliver. As I’ve made no … Press is not at all surprised. I’ve been touting the fact that I think it’s really important, that this critical moment in Ukraine, in the whole NATO issue, that you continue to lead NATO. You’re trusted. No one knows the situation that we’re facing better than you do. And this historic moment, the adding of Finland and Sweden to NATO is consequential and your leadership really matters. And we agree on the language that you proposed relative to the future of Ukraine, being able to join NATO. And we’re looking for continued united NATO. They’ve heard me say, “My American president heard me say many times.” I still think that that President Putin thinks the way he succeeds is to break NATO. Not going to do that, especially with [inaudible 00:02:30]. So thank you for willing to do it.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, all.

Mr. President, what is your role in getting Sergei to agree, Mr. President? Mr. President, why weren’t you at the signing?

All right. Joint brief statement by President Biden and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. President Biden especially marking this historic moment with Sweden on the way to being a member of NATO, calling it really a consequential moment and says, “Leadership matters.” As it pertains to Ukraine, he said, “We look toward a continued united NATO as they deal with the war.”