Biden opens NATO summit without a slip-up
At the start of the three-day NATO summit, NATO celebrates its 75-year anniversary. US President Biden delivers a fierce opening speech and tries to dispel doubts about his mental fitness. With the help of a teleprompter, he manages to do so without any stutters.
No jokers, but rather a powerful speech: US President Joe Biden delivered his address at a ceremony marking the 75-year anniversary of NATO in Washington - there were no embarrassments. Every step Biden took was scrutinized in the debate about the physical fitness of the 81-year-old. After his NATO speech, Biden could have breathed a sigh of relief. Unlike during his TV debate two weeks ago against his Republican challenger Donald Trump, Biden didn't lose his thread.
The biggest blunders, Biden usually avoids them himself when reading from the teleprompter. However, it will be a challenge for the 81-year-old when he speaks freely. Then he often confuses names and places, finishes sentences and thoughts incompletely, and is sometimes difficult to understand. The real test for US President Biden still lies ahead: On Thursday, he will give a press conference at the end of the NATO summit. He will have to react spontaneously then - the teleprompter won't be able to help him.
The United States sends an additional Patriot air defense system to Ukraine
In his opening speech, Biden announced that the United States would provide an additional Patriot air defense system to Ukraine. Along with previously known contributions from Germany, Romania, the Netherlands, and Italy, "five strategic air defense systems" have come together, Biden said during the ceremony. The also present Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had demanded eight systems from the allies - two more than promised.
"We are working on further commitments this year," it said in a joint statement by Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and the heads of state and government of Romania, the Netherlands, and Italy. "Our message to Moscow and the world is clear: Our support for Ukraine is strong and steadfast." Germany has already delivered one of the five Patriot systems mentioned by Biden to Ukraine in the past few days. In total, Kiev has received three Patriot batteries from the German government since the beginning of the Russian attack war in February 2022.
At the summit, the heads of state and government of the Ukraine alliance are expected to put new military aid of 40 billion Euro over a year on the table, as well as new bilateral security guarantees for Kiev. However, the invitation to join for Ukraine, which is being demanded by Zelensky, will not be given. The outgoing NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg warned the 32 member states against easing their engagement in Ukraine. "The greatest costs and the greatest risk arise if Russia wins in Ukraine," Stoltenberg said in a speech. This would not only encourage Putin, but also "authoritarian leaders in Iran, North Korea, or China."
- The announcement by Biden during the NATO summit's opening speech about providing an additional Patriot air defense system to Ukraine has raised expectations.
- Jens Stoltenberg, the outgoing NATO Secretary General, cautioned against easing engagement in Ukraine at the summit, emphasizing the potential risks and costs if Russia were to succeed.
- In light of the "Attack on Ukraine" and amidst ongoing politics, NATO leaders are expected to discuss and potentially increase military aid and bilateral security guarantees for Ukraine during the summit, although membership is not expected to be offered.
