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| Joe Biden meets Nato leaders and Turkish president Erdoğan – US politics live | Joe Biden meets Nato leaders and Turkish president Erdoğan – US politics live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| President continues European trip with summit in Brussels – follow all the day’s politics news live | President continues European trip with summit in Brussels – follow all the day’s politics news live |
| As Joe Biden prepares for his meeting with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Brussels, Kamala Harris has just arrived in South Carolina for an event to promote coronavirus vaccinations. | |
| The vice-president will soon deliver remarks at a coronavirus vaccination mobilization event at the Phillis Wheatley Community Center in Greenville. | |
| Harris will later tour a pop-up vaccination site at the YMCA of Greenville and participate in a conversation on voting rights with community leaders. | |
| Attorney general Merrick Garland also released a statement addressing the seizure of records from top Democrats and reporters during Donald Trump’s presidency. | |
| “As I stated during my confirmation hearing, political or other improper considerations must play no role in any investigative or prosecutorial decisions,” Garland said. | |
| “There are important questions that must be resolved in connection with an effort by the department to obtain records related to Members of Congress and Congressional staff. I have accordingly directed that the matter be referred to the Inspector General and have full confidence that he will conduct a thorough and independent investigation. If at any time as the investigation proceeds action related to the matter in question is warranted, I will not hesitate to move swiftly.” | |
| Garland noted he has also asked the deputy attorney general, Lisa Monaco, to “evaluate and strengthen the department’s existing policies and procedures for obtaining records of the Legislative branch”. | |
| The attorney general concluded, “Consistent with our commitment to the rule of law, we must ensure that full weight is accorded to separation-of-powers concerns moving forward.” | |
| John Demers, the assistant attorney general of the National Security Division, is reportedly leaving the justice department amid an uproar over the seizure of records from top Democrats and reporters as part of an investigation into leaks of classified information. | John Demers, the assistant attorney general of the National Security Division, is reportedly leaving the justice department amid an uproar over the seizure of records from top Democrats and reporters as part of an investigation into leaks of classified information. |
| According to the New York Times, Demers’ departure has been in the works for months, but it comes amid intensified scrutiny of the department because of the leaks investigation, which started during Donald Trump’s presidency. | According to the New York Times, Demers’ departure has been in the works for months, but it comes amid intensified scrutiny of the department because of the leaks investigation, which started during Donald Trump’s presidency. |
| The Times reports: | The Times reports: |
| The news comes three days after the justice department inspector general announced his office would launch an investigation of the records seizure, which Democrats have criticized as a “shocking” abuse of power by the Trump administration. | The news comes three days after the justice department inspector general announced his office would launch an investigation of the records seizure, which Democrats have criticized as a “shocking” abuse of power by the Trump administration. |
| The supreme court released two opinions this morning, but the decisions in the highest-profile cases on Obamacare and voting rights, among other issues, have not yet been announced. | The supreme court released two opinions this morning, but the decisions in the highest-profile cases on Obamacare and voting rights, among other issues, have not yet been announced. |
| The court’s next opinion day is Thursday. | The court’s next opinion day is Thursday. |
| The | The |
| The supreme court has left in place the convictions of two men who participated in the 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. | The supreme court has left in place the convictions of two men who participated in the 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. |
| The AP reports: | The AP reports: |
| One person participating in a peaceful protest against the rally, Heather Heyer, was killed after a white supremacist drove his car into a crowd of demonstrators. A Virginia State Police pilot and trooper also died after the helicopter they were using on the day of rally crashed. | One person participating in a peaceful protest against the rally, Heather Heyer, was killed after a white supremacist drove his car into a crowd of demonstrators. A Virginia State Police pilot and trooper also died after the helicopter they were using on the day of rally crashed. |
| The White House has released a readout of Joe Biden’s meeting today with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Nato summit. | The White House has released a readout of Joe Biden’s meeting today with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Nato summit. |
| “The President reiterated his support for NATO’s strengthened defense and deterrence agenda and his resolute commitment to the defense of Allies on NATO’s eastern flank, including Poland,” the White House said. | “The President reiterated his support for NATO’s strengthened defense and deterrence agenda and his resolute commitment to the defense of Allies on NATO’s eastern flank, including Poland,” the White House said. |
| The two leaders also discussed Biden’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which will take place on Wednesday in Geneva, Switzerland. | The two leaders also discussed Biden’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which will take place on Wednesday in Geneva, Switzerland. |
| Biden’s meeting with Duda did not appear on his official schedule for the day, but a spokesperson for the Polish president previously said the two leaders had a discussion this morning. | Biden’s meeting with Duda did not appear on his official schedule for the day, but a spokesperson for the Polish president previously said the two leaders had a discussion this morning. |
| Joe Biden is intensely preparing for his Wednesday summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the US president meets with Nato leaders in Brussels, Belgium. | Joe Biden is intensely preparing for his Wednesday summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the US president meets with Nato leaders in Brussels, Belgium. |
| CNN reports: | CNN reports: |
| Sullivan told reporters yesterday that Biden would “have the opportunity to speak to all of the [Nato] allies about what he intends to talk to Putin about”. | Sullivan told reporters yesterday that Biden would “have the opportunity to speak to all of the [Nato] allies about what he intends to talk to Putin about”. |
| The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, added, “His view is that this is not a meeting about trust, it’s not a meeting about friendship -- it’s a meeting about figuring out where we can find common ground, and also being straightforward and candid about areas where we have concern.” | The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, added, “His view is that this is not a meeting about trust, it’s not a meeting about friendship -- it’s a meeting about figuring out where we can find common ground, and also being straightforward and candid about areas where we have concern.” |
| Joe Biden held a meeting with leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania at the Nato summit in Brussels this morning. | Joe Biden held a meeting with leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania at the Nato summit in Brussels this morning. |
| “The President underscored strong U.S. support for the security of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, as well as the entire Baltic region,” the White House said in a readout of the meeting. | “The President underscored strong U.S. support for the security of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, as well as the entire Baltic region,” the White House said in a readout of the meeting. |
| “The four leaders committed to further strengthening our political, military, and economic partnerships, including working together through NATO to address challenges posed by Russia and China.” | “The four leaders committed to further strengthening our political, military, and economic partnerships, including working together through NATO to address challenges posed by Russia and China.” |
| A spokesperson for the Polish president said he also held talks with Biden today, although the meeting did not appear on the US president’s official schedule for the day. The spokesperson said the two leaders discussed economic and military security in eastern Europe. | A spokesperson for the Polish president said he also held talks with Biden today, although the meeting did not appear on the US president’s official schedule for the day. The spokesperson said the two leaders discussed economic and military security in eastern Europe. |
| Three years ago it was Donald Trump who stunned Nato members at a summit in Brussels, warning that he may be prepared to pull the US out of the western military alliance if its other members did not increase their defence spending. | Three years ago it was Donald Trump who stunned Nato members at a summit in Brussels, warning that he may be prepared to pull the US out of the western military alliance if its other members did not increase their defence spending. |
| At a summit in the same city on Monday, it falls to Joe Biden to repair the damage from four years of his predecessor’s freewheeling theatrics, although experts caution that the Trump era will have lasting consequences. | At a summit in the same city on Monday, it falls to Joe Biden to repair the damage from four years of his predecessor’s freewheeling theatrics, although experts caution that the Trump era will have lasting consequences. |
| Rhetorically, at least, the omens are favourable. The US president declared Nato’s article 5, under which an armed attack against one member is deemed an attack against them all, a “sacred commitment” last week. | Rhetorically, at least, the omens are favourable. The US president declared Nato’s article 5, under which an armed attack against one member is deemed an attack against them all, a “sacred commitment” last week. |
| Similar language and a respectful tone, long a Biden trademark, are expected in the Belgian capital, not least because the US wants Nato, along with the G7, to take a more robust line against Russia, particularly on cyberwarfare, and even China, not traditionally seen as an opponent. | Similar language and a respectful tone, long a Biden trademark, are expected in the Belgian capital, not least because the US wants Nato, along with the G7, to take a more robust line against Russia, particularly on cyberwarfare, and even China, not traditionally seen as an opponent. |
| Greetings from Washington, live blog readers. | Greetings from Washington, live blog readers. |
| Joe Biden continues his first international trip as president today, meeting with Nato leaders at a summit in Brussels. | Joe Biden continues his first international trip as president today, meeting with Nato leaders at a summit in Brussels. |
| The US president will also soon have a meeting with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, marking the first in-person discussion between the two leaders since Biden took office in January. | The US president will also soon have a meeting with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, marking the first in-person discussion between the two leaders since Biden took office in January. |
| Speaking to reporters yesterday, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the two leaders will “cover the range of issues in our bilateral relationship, as well as a number of important regional issues, from Syria, to Libya, to the eastern Mediterranean”. He said Biden and Erdoğan will also discuss China and Russia. | Speaking to reporters yesterday, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the two leaders will “cover the range of issues in our bilateral relationship, as well as a number of important regional issues, from Syria, to Libya, to the eastern Mediterranean”. He said Biden and Erdoğan will also discuss China and Russia. |
| But the two presidents are not expected to significantly improve their somewhat strained relationship. Erdoğan was outraged in April when the US president formally recognized the genocide of Armenians by Ottoman troops. | But the two presidents are not expected to significantly improve their somewhat strained relationship. Erdoğan was outraged in April when the US president formally recognized the genocide of Armenians by Ottoman troops. |
| That recognition will almost certainly be discussed in the two leaders’ meeting today, and it seems very unlikely that they will see eye to eye. | That recognition will almost certainly be discussed in the two leaders’ meeting today, and it seems very unlikely that they will see eye to eye. |
| The blog will have more details on the meeting coming up, so stay tuned. | The blog will have more details on the meeting coming up, so stay tuned. |