NATO Members Close to Black Sea Mine Deal, Biden Guarantees US Support for NATO

NATO members Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria are close to finalizing an agreement to establish a joint force to clear mines drifting into their portions of the Black Sea due to the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. President Biden assured Finland that the United States would remain committed to NATO despite political instability in the country. The NATO summit in Vilnius saw Finland's membership activated and Sweden's membership on track, with member states strengthening their defense budgets. However, Ukraine did not receive a formal invitation to join NATO due to the United States' obstruction.