G-7, Nato meetings: Biden to talk Covid, Afghanistan

Washington, June 8: US President Joe Biden is scheduled to leave on his maiden official overseas trip during which he will hold discussions with top global leaders, including at the G-7 summit in the UK and the Nato meetings, on issues such as the impact of Covid-19, security challenges and drawdown of forces from Afghanistan, a top official said.

Biden will leave for the UK on Wednesday and then visit Brussels and Geneva as part of the trip that ends next week.

The visits will advance the fundamental thrust of Joe Biden’s foreign policy to rally the world’s democracies, to tackle the great challenges of the time, US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan said.

We believe that President Biden goes on this trip from a position of strength. Dramatic progress against the pandemic at home, strong projected growth that will help power the global economic recovery as well, renewed American power and purpose and a rock-solid foundation of alliances that will serve as force multipliers for our global agenda.

At the G-7, Sullivan said Biden will join with his fellow leaders to lay out a plan to end the Covid-19 pandemic with further specific commitments.

He will announce a new initiative to provide financing for physical, digital and health infrastructure in the developing a high standard, climate friendly, transparent and rulesbased alternative to what China is offering, Sullivan said.