During the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, President Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan engaged in discussions regarding Sweden's entry into NATO and the future of their bilateral relationship. Biden expressed his anticipation of continued collaboration with Erdoğan over the next five years.

Sweden's accession to NATO, making it the 32nd member, was a key topic of conversation. This development followed Turkey's decision to withdraw its previous objections, paving the way for Sweden's membership. Sweden had fulfilled all the necessary requirements but needed unanimous consent from existing members. Turkey's shift in stance came after negotiations involving Biden and Erdoğan, which also addressed Turkey's potential membership in the European Union and the sale of American F-16 fighter jets to Turkey.

Biden commended Erdoğan for his diplomatic efforts and leadership in facilitating Sweden's NATO membership. He emphasized the summit's role in reaffirming the commitment to NATO's defense and expressed hope for strengthening the alliance further.

Erdoğan, reciprocating the positive sentiment, thanked Biden for his congratulations on his recent re-election and highlighted the importance of their meeting as a starting point for renewed collaboration. He described previous meetings as "warm-ups" and framed the current summit as the beginning of a new five-year process.

Biden's comment about looking forward to working with Erdoğan for the next five years comes as he seeks re-election in 2024. He faces competition from other Democratic candidates and a field of Republican contenders, including former President Donald Trump.