Biden to visit Japan and Australia to meet with allies

President Joe Biden will visit Japan and Australia next month to speak with allies about their continued response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as ways to deal with China’s assertive economic and military moves in the Indus region. -Pacific, the White House announced Tuesday.

Biden will attend a summit of the leaders of the Group of Seven advanced democracies in Hiroshima, Japan, from May 19 to 21, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. He will then take his first trip as president to Australia, which will include the third face-to-face meeting of the so-called “Quad” leadership of the US, Japan, Australia and India.

“The G7 President and leaders will discuss a range of the most pressing global issues, including the G7’s unwavering support for Ukraine, tackling the twin food and climate crises, ensuring inclusive and resilient economic growth, and continuing to lead an energy transition. clean at home and to our partners around the world,” he said.

At the Quad meeting on May 24, Biden will meet with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia. The group was formed in 2007 to boost economic and security relations between the four democracies as a brake on China’s rise. It was restarted under President Donald Trump a decade later and rose to a regular gathering of leaders during Biden’s tenure.

“The Quad leaders will discuss how they can deepen their cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, maritime domain awareness, and other issues that are important to the people of the Indo-Pacific,” Jean-Pacific said. Pierre.

The meeting with Modi comes amid growing US concern over India’s democratic backsliding during his tenure and US efforts to pressure India to join international economic sanctions against Russia over his invasion of the Ukraine.