Thread: President Joe Biden

^Still upset

“We are going to stick with Ukraine, and all of the alliance is going to stick with Ukraine as long as it takes to, in fact, make sure that they are not defeated,” Biden said.

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• Joe Biden hosts largest ever Diwali reception at White House

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden on Monday hosted a Diwali reception at the White House in what they called the largest since the People’s House started celebrating the festival during the George Bush administration.

More than 200 eminent Indian Americans attended the reception at the East Room, a venue which has witnessed some of the landmark events related to the India-US relationship, including the signing of the nuclear deal and the joint press conference by then-US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2008.

The reception saw some enthralling cultural events, including performances by sitarist Rishab Sharma and dance troupe The Sa Dance Company. The guests, dressed in traditional Indian attires such as saree, lehenga and sherwani, relished some mouthwatering Indian delicacies.

“The room is full at the East state dining room… This is a real celebration of what the Indian American community has achieved in the United States. It’s a wonderful recognition by the President and by the White House to host all of us on Diwali. I feel very privileged to be here as an Indian American,” Atul Keshap, president of US India Business Council told PTI during the reception.

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• Biden speaks with British PM Sunak about Ukraine, Good Friday Agreement in first call

President Biden on Tuesday spoke for the first time with new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, with the two leaders coordinating on policy toward Ukraine and China.

Biden spoke with Sunak hours after he officially took over as prime minister, becoming the third person this year to hold the position in the United Kingdom.

“The leaders reaffirmed the special relationship between our countries, underscoring their desire to further enhance cooperation on issues critical to global security and prosperity,” the White House said in a readout of the call. “The leaders agreed on the importance of working together to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its aggression, address the challenges posed by China, and secure sustainable and affordable energy resources.”

The two also discussed the importance of protecting the Good Friday Agreement, which ended the Northern Ireland conflict.

Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom (U.K.), shares a border with Ireland, which is part of the European Union (EU). The U.K.’s exit from the EU sparked renewed concerns about the possibility of a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, upsetting the agreement that has maintained peace for more than two decades.