BSS
  01 Jul 2022, 09:37

Biden touts Switzerland -- woops, Sweden -- in NATO expansion

  MADRID, July 1, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - NATO's latest expansion momentarily got really interesting with even Switzerland about to join -- at least for a second in a Joe Biden verbal slip Thursday.
 
   At a press conference marking the end of the NATO summit in Madrid, the US president recounted the behind-the-scenes talks putting militarily non-aligned Finland and Sweden on track to join the Western alliance in a major rebuff to Russia.
 
   Except he misspoke, saying there was a plan to call the leader of famously neutral Switzerland about joining.
 
   Quickly realizing his stumble, Biden said: "Switzerland, my goodness."
 
   "I'm getting really anxious here about expanding NATO," he joked, before adding for the record: "Sweden."
 
   Biden, 79, has long been known for his verbal gaffes during a political career spanning half a century.