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Biden and Merkel 'united against Russia aggression' | Biden and Merkel 'united against Russia aggression' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Angela Merkel and four US presidents | Angela Merkel and four US presidents |
The US and Germany will stand together against Russian aggression, President Joe Biden said as he welcomed outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel to Washington. | The US and Germany will stand together against Russian aggression, President Joe Biden said as he welcomed outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel to Washington. |
Mr Biden said he had voiced concern to Mrs Merkel over a Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline, but they agreed Moscow cannot be allowed to use energy as a weapon. | Mr Biden said he had voiced concern to Mrs Merkel over a Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline, but they agreed Moscow cannot be allowed to use energy as a weapon. |
The US president said the two allies also opposed anti-democratic actions by China. | The US president said the two allies also opposed anti-democratic actions by China. |
Mrs Merkel, who has worked with four US presidents, is leaving office. | Mrs Merkel, who has worked with four US presidents, is leaving office. |
"We stand together and will continue to stand together to defend our eastern flank allies at Nato against Russian aggression," Mr Biden told Thursday's joint news conference with Mrs Merkel. | "We stand together and will continue to stand together to defend our eastern flank allies at Nato against Russian aggression," Mr Biden told Thursday's joint news conference with Mrs Merkel. |
He acknowledged the two did not see eye to eye on the nearly complete $11bn (£8bn) Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline. The White House has said it will be used by Russia as leverage over Ukraine and other neighbours. | He acknowledged the two did not see eye to eye on the nearly complete $11bn (£8bn) Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline. The White House has said it will be used by Russia as leverage over Ukraine and other neighbours. |
"Good friends can disagree," said Mr Biden, who recently waived sanctions against Nord Stream 2. | "Good friends can disagree," said Mr Biden, who recently waived sanctions against Nord Stream 2. |
The US president also said: "We will stand up for democratic principles and human rights when we see China or any other country working to undermine free and open societies." | The US president also said: "We will stand up for democratic principles and human rights when we see China or any other country working to undermine free and open societies." |
Despite being strong trade partners, Berlin has at times been critical of Beijing on the issue of human rights. | Despite being strong trade partners, Berlin has at times been critical of Beijing on the issue of human rights. |
Mr Biden also told reporters the US had no plans "at the moment" to send troops to Haiti amid growing unrest after the assassination of its president. | Mr Biden also told reporters the US had no plans "at the moment" to send troops to Haiti amid growing unrest after the assassination of its president. |
Asked about ongoing protests in Cuba, Mr Biden said the "failed state" was repressing its citizens. | Asked about ongoing protests in Cuba, Mr Biden said the "failed state" was repressing its citizens. |
"Communism is a failed system, a universally failed system," he said. "And I don't see socialism as a very useful substitute." | "Communism is a failed system, a universally failed system," he said. "And I don't see socialism as a very useful substitute." |
Protests prompt Cuba to lift import tax on food | Protests prompt Cuba to lift import tax on food |
Ex-soldiers 'knew of plot to kill Haiti president' | Ex-soldiers 'knew of plot to kill Haiti president' |
Both leaders emphasised the amicable nature of their hour-long meeting, with Mrs Merkel referring more than once to her host as "Dear Joe". | |
Mr Biden told his guest: "I will miss seeing you at our summits." | Mr Biden told his guest: "I will miss seeing you at our summits." |
Mrs Merkel expressed "sympathy" for the dozens of people killed by heavy flooding back home in Germany. | |
Flooding kills dozens in Germany and Belgium | Flooding kills dozens in Germany and Belgium |
The German leader had a frosty relationship with Mr Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, and occasional tension, too, with George W Bush and Barack Obama, the other two presidents her tenure has spanned. | The German leader had a frosty relationship with Mr Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, and occasional tension, too, with George W Bush and Barack Obama, the other two presidents her tenure has spanned. |
Mrs Merkel, who became chancellor in 2005, is not running again in September's elections. Her Christian Democratic Union leads opinion polls. |