District of Columbia, International | June 15, 2021
Biden looking to build momentum for Putin meeting
District of Columbia, International | June 15, 2021
President Biden is looking to build momentum heading into a highly anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.
Biden has spent the last few days rallying allies in the Group of Seven (G-7) and NATO around the need to confront Russia and meeting privately with foreign leaders to gauge how he should approach his one-on-one with Putin.
The communique signed by G-7 leaders specifically called out Russia’s use of chemical weapons on its own soil, its aggression toward Ukraine and its crackdown on dissent. Biden raised Russia in each of his pull-aside meetings with fellow NATO leaders at Monday’s summit, and he has worked to carefully manage expectations for what can come out of the Putin meeting.
“I shared with our allies what I’ll convey to President Putin: That I’m not looking for conflict with Russia, but that we will respond if Russia continues its harmful activities and that we will not fail to defend the trans-Atlantic alliance or stand up for democratic values,” Biden said at a press conference on Monday, warning that Moscow is seeking to “drive a wedge” among NATO members….
(Excerpts from the The Hill)
International | June 14, 2021
White House Says NATO Will Launch ‘Ambitious’ Security Initiatives
International | June 14, 2021
WASHINGTON—The White House said on Sunday ahead of Monday’s NATO summit that alliance leaders would launch an “ambitious” set of initiatives to ensure it continues providing security through 2030 and beyond.
It said the 30 member countries would agree to revise NATO’s “Strategic Concept” to guide its “approach to the evolving strategic environment, which includes Russia’s aggressive policies and actions; challenges posed by the People’s Republic of China to our collective security, prosperity, and values; and transnational threats such as terrorism, cyber threats, and climate change.”
The White House statement said the new Strategic Concept would be prepared for adoption at the 2022 NATO Summit.
“Allied leaders will launch an ambitious set of initiatives to ensure NATO continues to provide security to our citizens through 2030 and beyond,” the statement added.
Reuters reported earlier that NATO’s Strategic Concept was expected to include China’s military rise as a challenge for the first time.
President Joe Biden arrived in Brussels on Sunday for the summit.
NATO leaders will endorse a new Cyber Defense Policy boosting coordination to ensure the alliance “is resilient against the increasingly frequent and severe threats … including disruptive ransomware attacks against critical infrastructure.”…
(Excerpts from the Epoch Times)
International | June 3, 2021
Biden to meet with Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle on June 13
International | June 3, 2021
President Biden and first lady Jill Biden are set to meet with Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle during his trip to Europe next month for the G-7 summit, the palace said Thursday.
“The Queen will meet the President of the United States of America and First Lady Jill Biden at Windsor Castle on Sunday, 13th June 2021,” the official Twitter account for the Royal Family posted Thursday.
The visit comes as part of Biden’s first overseas trip to the United Kingdom for the G-7 Summit and Belgium for the NATO Summit in June.
BIDEN TO MAKE FIRST OVERSEAS TRIP IN JUNE FOR G-7, NATO SUMMITS
Biden will attend the annual G7 Summit with other world leaders in Cornwall, U.K., between June 11 and June 13, the White House said in April.
When asked whether the president would be visiting Queen Elizabeth, White House press secretary Jen Psaki responded, “Who wouldn’t want to meet the Queen?”…
(Excerpts from Fox News)