Biden is adamantly defending Nato when he hosts the leaders of the summit
The US president announces a new round of military assistance to Ukraine and warns “autocrats have overturned global order”.
By Kayla Epstein
Jul 10, 2024 05:01 AM
By Kayla Epstein, BBC News
US American President Joe Biden has welcomed Nato leaders to Washington DC with a forceful speech, which seemed designed to reassure his allies overseas and at home that he is able to fight against an electoral challenge by Donald Trump.
In short, but powerful remarks delivered at the start meeting, President Obama declared the partnership “more powerful than ever” in the face of the possibility of a “pivotal moment” with the conflict that is raging between Russia as well as Ukraine.
Announcing about the fact that “autocrats” had overturned global order” Biden announced that “autocrats” had overturned global order.” Biden promised more military assistance to Kyiv.
The US president and the heads of Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Romania are giving Patriot missile batteries as well as other systems to help Ukraine’s air defences, which are in need of repair.
In all, Nato plans to donate five air defence systems that are strategic as well as dozens of smaller strategic anti-air batteries during the next few years according to the White House said.
The announcement comes just two days after the launch of a Russian missile destroyed an infant hospital in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. About 43 people were killed across Ukraine in the attack on Monday, with more than 100 more wounded according to officials.
President Volodymyr Zelensky spent months in a row with the president’s Western allies to boost defenses against air attacks.
“The war will end with Ukraine remaining a free and independent country,” Vice President Joe Biden stated in remarks that were read out from a teleprompter Tuesday afternoon. “Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail.”
Mr. Biden spoke for 13 minutes with a crisp tone, which is a distinct difference from his unreliable tone during the presidential debate last month with Trump.
In the meantime, Congress Democrats have a private discussion to discuss Biden’s leadership role in the party, and the state of mind seemed “sad”, lawmakers told the Associated Press news agency.
On Tuesday the 7th House of Representatives Democrat – Mikie Sherrill from New Jersey – publicly called for Mr. Biden to not run for another term, claiming that it was “too high”.
Foreign diplomats who visited the country also expressed doubt about Biden’s prospects, as per reports.
“We don’t see how he can come back after the debate,” an unnamed European representative said to Reuters the news organization. “I can’t imagine him being at helm of the US and Nato for four more years.”
The Biden team has responded by trying to prove that he is still strong enough to take on the pressures from the office of president.
The White House has credited Mr Biden’s leadership to the growth of Nato after Russia attacked Ukraine in the past two years which led to Finland as well as Sweden being part of Nato.
Leaders from 32 members are converged in the US capital to attend the summit.
Alongside them is the British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. Before departing for Washington Sir Keir Starmer stated that he was happy to “confirm and reaffirm Labour’s strong support, unshakeable support for Nato”.
Reporters accompanying the summit to relay the message he would send towards Russian the president Vladimir Putin, Sir Keir stated that the summit “should be seen as a clear and united resolve by Nato allies… to stand with Ukraine and stand up to Russian aggression”.
He added that the deadly attack that took place at a hospital for children at Kyiv on the eve of this week “strengthens the resolve and that is a very important if tragic backdrop to this summit”.
Sir Keir has also added that the offer of help to Ukraine the UK is seeking to promote in the recent Summit “goes beyond the support that’s been put in before”.
Sir Keir is scheduled to meet with Joe Biden on Wednesday. He will also meet Democratic and Republican representatives from Congress.
The event on Tuesday was deeply rooted in the history of the alliance.
The event was held at exactly the same place in which the first treaty was signed a few decades ago. It was also the location where President Biden referenced in his speech.
At the end of his speech, Biden invited Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to the stage to confer on him his Presidential Medal of Freedom, the most prestigious civilian award in America.
On Tuesday night, Trump, 78, was criticized by Nato allies during a rally at his golf course at Doral, Florida.
The rally was attended by his three sons and his youngest, Barron, who was attending his first Trump rally in the words of his father and was given more acclaim from the crowd than his older brothers Eric as well as Don.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Nato members for not achieving the agreed-upon goal of spending at a minimum 2 percent of their domestic product for defense. A lot of Nato nations have now met the requirement after Russia has invaded Ukraine.
Trump stated to his followers that the countries contributed “hundreds of billions of dollars” more, because when President he was in the White House, he previously warned the countries “No, I will not protect you from Russia” unless they contributed an additional amount to the Alliance.
If Trump was criticized for similar comments during an event in February of this year Mr Stoltenberg declared that the remark “undermines all of our security”.
However, the Nato chief was not open about the Republican candidate when the summit started on Tuesday.
Ukrainian president Vlodymyr Zelensky told an event within Washington DC that the whole world was “waiting for November”, when the US general elections take place and he called on American citizens to stand with Ukraine.
Mr Zelensky is scheduled to meet with Mr Biden this Thursday.