17/10/2024 11:02
The Guardian
The presidential candidate made the remarks at a town hall in MiamiUS president Joe Biden will spend Friday in Berlin with German chancellor Olaf Scholz, reports the Associated Press (AP). There is also a planned meeting with other leaders in the ‘European quad’ a group that in addition to Biden and Scholz includes French president Emmanuel Macron and UK prime minister Keir Starmer.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre described Biden as having a “close relationship” with Scholz, who early this year helped broker a multi-country prisoner swap that brought back to the US the journalist Evan Gershkovich and former marine Paul Whelan. The German leader told Biden before the deal in words to the effect, “For you, I will do this”, reports Reuters. “We have worked together closely to strengthen our economies for both our people and provide critical support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russian aggression,” Jean-Pierre said at Wednesday’s White House briefing. “The president really wanted to make sure to go to Germany to thank chancellor Scholz directly.” The US and Germany have been the largest two sources of aid to Ukraine as it fights to repel a Russian invasion. And with less than three weeks before the US presidential election, Biden also feels obliged to ready allies for the possible return to the White House of Republican Donald Trump, who has antagonised US friends while displaying an appreciation for Russian president Vladimir Putin, reports the AP. The administration said Biden has no plans while in Europe to meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but the two spoke on Wednesday about additional military aid, with the White House announcing $425m in assistance, bringing the total support to more than $64bn over two and a half years. In addition to Ukraine, Biden and Scholz plan to discuss EU relations, democratic values, trade and technology issues, global supply chains, tensions in the Middle East and security issues in the Indo-Pacific region, reports the AP. While in Germany, Biden will also meet with its president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Earlier this month, Biden delayed a trip planned to Germany and Angola in order to oversee relief efforts ahead of Hurricane Milton making landfall in Florida. He now plans to go to Angola in December.At Wednesday’s Miami town hall, Donald Trump sidestepped a question on immigration, reports Reuters. Continue reading...
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