Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan wished U.S. President Joe Biden good luck in his re-election campaign for 2024, after Erdoğan facilitated Sweden’s NATO membership process, providing a diplomatic victory for Biden. During a meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Lithuania, Erdoğan said to Biden, "Now, you are preparing for the next elections... I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you the best of luck." Biden replied with a laugh, "Thank you... I look forward to seeing you in the next five years."
The friendly exchange marked a shift in relations that have sometimes been tense between the two NATO member countries, particularly after Erdoğan dropped his opposition to Sweden’s membership in the military alliance, a move that pleased the United States and angered Russia. The 80-year-old Democrat seeks a second four-year term in the presidential election set for November 2024 and aims to make leading international alliances a part of his campaign platform.
The White House announced that "U.S. President Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discussed defense and economic priorities during their meeting on Tuesday, a day after Ankara supported Sweden's NATO membership." The statement following the presidents’ meeting added, "They also discussed regional issues of mutual interest, including their continued support for Ukraine and the importance of maintaining stability in the Aegean Sea."
