Press conference – The White House
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Mr Prime Minister, we’ve been in close touch since the moment you came into office. And we’ve met all around the world.
And now, it’s wonderful to have you by my side here at the White House.
And as we advance our Alliance even more than has already been advanced. It’s strong now. It’s getting stronger.
Before I get to the progress Australia and the United States have made today, I want to say just a very few words about the situation in the Middle East.
The anger, the hurt, the sense of outrage that the Israeli people are feeling after the brutally inflicted devastation by Hamas is completely understandable.
Israel has the right, and I would add responsibility, to respond to the slaughter of their people. And we will ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself against these terrorists. That’s a guarantee.
We also have to remember that Hamas does not represent, let me say it again, Hamas does not represent the vast majority of the Palestinian people on the Gaza Strip or anywhere else. Hamas is hiding behind Palestinian civilians. And it’s despicable and, not surprisingly, cowardly as well.
This also puts an added burden on Israel while they go after Hamas. But that does not lessen the need to operate and align with the laws of war. For Israel has to do everything in its power. Israel has to do everything in its power, as difficult as it is, to protect innocent civilians. It’s difficult.
I want to thank the Israelis and the Palestinians and President Sisi of Egypt for working with the United States to make sure that food, water and medical supplies are getting through to innocent people in Gaza.
The flow needs to increase, and we’re working very hard with our partners to make that happen.
We’re also working around the clock together with our partners in the region to secure the release of hostages and including American citizens left behind and held by Hamas. And the safe passage of foreign nationals out of Gaza. Not just Americans, but Australians and whole range of people who are trapped Gaza.
I also want to take a moment to look ahead toward the future that we seek.
Israelis and Palestinians equally deserve to live side by side in safety, dignity and peace.
There’s no going back to the status quo as it stood on October 6.
That means ensuring Hamas can no longer terrorise Israel and use Palestinian civilians as human shields.
It also means that when this crisis is over, there has to be vision of what comes next.
And in our view, it has to be a two state solution.
It means a concentrated effort for all the parties, Israelis, Palestinians, regional partners, global leaders to put us on a path toward peace.
In the past few weeks, I’ve spoken to leaders throughout the region, including King Abdullah of Jordan, President Sisi of Egypt, President of Abbas of the Palestinian Authority and just yesterday with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia about making sure there is hope in the region for a better future.
About the need, and I mean this sincerely, about the need to work toward a greater integration for Israel while insisting that the aspirations of the Palestinian people will be part of that future as well.
I’m convinced one of the reasons Hamas attacked when they did, I have no proof of this, just my instinct tells me, is because of the progress we were making towards regional integration for Israel and regional integration overall.
And we can’t leave that work behind.
And one more word on this. I continue to be alarmed about extremist settlers attacking Palestinians in the West Bank, that pouring gasoline on fire is what it’s like.
This was a deal. The deal was made. And they’re attacking Palestinians in places that they’re entitled to be. It has to stop. They have to be held accountable. And it has to stop now.
Prime Minister, Mr Prime Minister, I want to thank you for your partnership and your friendship, quite frankly, during this difficult hour.
Over the past few weeks and for many months before we’ve seen each other. And we’ve seen our alliance grow more critical than ever.
And we need to continue to make this important progress. In our discussions today, we’ve done just that.
First, we’re pioneering new advancements and innovations, deepening our cooperation in fields like biotechnology, advanced batteries, quantum computing, cybersecurity and a lot more.
We’re also signing a new Technology Safeguards Agreement to create more opportunities for American space companies to launch vehicles from Australia. And we’ve launched a new artificial intelligence initiative between our national laboratories to drive revolutionary and responsible research on humanity’s biggest challenges – fighting hunger, curbing pandemics, predicting natural disasters and ending cancer as we know, as a matter of fact, both of our wives are over at cancer tours right now.
Second, we’re accelerating action on climate change.
I thought we had a very good meeting this morning. And with Secretary Kerry and your team. And we’re all together on that.
We established a Climate Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Compact to elevate our climate cooperation alongside our defence and economic cooperation. And we’re already beginning to see the impacts.
We’ve created a Critical Minerals Taskforce to build secure critical mineral supply chains. We’re also investing in sustainable infrastructure in the Pacific Islands, including $65 million for a subsea communication cable to boost connectivity in the region. And we’re modernising funding for small and medium-sized businesses across the Indo-Pacific to help the transition to clean and energy.
And finally, the Alliance between Australia and the United States is an anchor. And I believe this from being an anchor to peace and prosperity in the Indo Pacific and, quite frankly, around the world.
We see this through our work of the Quad partners in India and Japan to ensure the Indo Pacific remains free, open, prosperous and secure.
I also see it through AUKUS where, together with the United Kingdom, we’re making a generational investments in our shared security.
Last week, I sent Congress a budget request with commitments to boost our submarine production and maintenance capacity here in the United States.
And I want to thank you, Mr Prime Minister, for the historic investments Australia has made to strengthen the submarine industry base as well.
Democrats, Republicans alike understand the strategic value AUKUS brings to our nations. And I urge Congress, I urge Congress, to pass our AUKUS legislation this year.
We also see the strength of our alliance and our unwavering support for Ukraine, both countries, as it defends its sovereignty against Putin’s brutality and aggression.
Australia is a critical partner. Together, the United States and 50 other nations, 50 other nations we’ve been able to put together, all doing our part to support Ukraine.
And I want to thank you, Mr Prime Minister, for the new package of military aid you recently announced. And it’s for Ukraine.
Look, Australia and United States also share, in my view, a commitment to upholding international rules of the road, including freedom of navigation.
Just this past week, the PRC vessels acted dangerously and unlawfully as our Philippine friends conducted a routine resupply mission within their own exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.
I want to be clear, I want to be very clear. The United States Defence commitment to the Philippines is ironclad. The United States Defence agreement with the Philippines is ironclad.
Any attack on the Filipino aircraft, vessels or armed forces will invoke our mutual defence treaty with the Philippines.
And, Mr Prime Minister, today we renewed our commitment to defend the values that are at the heart of this Alliance. And we continue to stand as one to forge a better future for both of us in all the region.
So, I want to thank you again for being here.
Thank you for your partnership and your leadership in this critical moment.
And I’d like to now turn it over to you.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thank you very much, Mr President.
Australia and the United States of America have stood together for more than a century – and it is indeed a great honour to stand alongside my friend President Biden today.
At the heart of our alliance are the enduring values our people hold in common.
A faith in freedom and democracy, a belief in opportunity, a determination to build a prosperous and more peaceful world.
Those values are timeless – and they have never mattered more than right now.
That’s why the relationship between Australia and the United States has never been more important – and, of course, it has never been stronger than it is right now.
We work together to promote peace and security across the Indo-Pacific, to uphold the stability which has generated unprecedented economic opportunity for the nations and people of our region.
For Australia this is about investing in our capability and investing in our relationships.
Today, President Biden and I discussed the progress being made on Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines – which we announced with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in March in San Diego.
We are conscious that this is only the second time in history that the United States has shared this technology. This fact speaks to the deep trust of our alliance and the significance of the challenge we face together.
Australia appreciates the Administration’s efforts to operationalise AUKUS and work with Congress to pass the legislation needed to realise our AUKUS ambitions.
And I certainly appreciate, once again, Mr President, your call for this legislation to be passed this year.
AUKUS will drive innovation and cooperation to provide the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom with improved capability to help secure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Our cooperation is already unlocking transformative opportunities – for jobs and skills and research, from Virginia to South Australia and Western Australia.
Australia and the United States have a strong and growing partnership in new technology – from medical research to A.I. – and l join President Biden in welcoming Microsoft’s $5 billion additional investment in Australia, which we announced this week here in Washington.
The President and I agree that innovation is vital to addressing the environmental challenge of climate change – and seizing the economic opportunities of clean energy.
The Climate, Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Transformation Compact that we signed in May in Hiroshima is very much central to this.
Climate Change and Clean Energy becomes the third pillar of our Alliance, alongside our security co-operation, through ANZUS, and our strong economic ties with the free trade agreement between our nations at its centre.
The Compact lays the foundation for our two countries to advance climate and clean energy action this decade – both at home and globally.
Today, we agreed new measures under the Compact to support our energy transition including the establishment of an Australia and US Clean Energy Industry Council, comprised of business and public finance leaders, to advise government on clean energy industry development and cooperation.
We are working with the United States to build end-to-end sustainable, reliable and transparent supply chains for critical minerals.
Of course, Australia has abundant supplies of these critical minerals that will drive our economies throughout this century – lithium, cobalt, copper, vanadium and rare earths.
We want to connect that with American markets, investors and technology in a way that creates new jobs and opportunities for industry and workers in both our nations.
Cheaper, cleaner energy will reduce costs for households but it will also power a new generation of manufacturing.
Our Alliance is also delivering for the Indo-Pacific region, bilaterally and increasingly with our partners in the Quad.
Australia and America are supporting the connectivity of the region, and today we announced:
- New funding for subsea cables in the Pacific
- Further support for infrastructure development, including efforts to increase the Pacific’s access to financing
- And that we will work together through a new Pacific Banking Forum, to ensure that our friends in the Pacific maintain access to the global financial system.
Today we also discussed our joint position opposing Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine.
Australia stands with Ukraine.
And President Biden welcomed the package of further assistance that I announced yesterday.
This will provide Ukraine with additional military assistance, utilising the innovative technology that is produced by Australia’s defence industry partners.
Finally, of course, last night and again today, we spoke about the situation in Israel and Gaza.
Australia unequivocally condemns the terrorism of Hamas.
We grieve for the loss of every innocent life, whether that be Israeli or Palestinian.
In times of crisis, respect for international humanitarian law is paramount – it is a recognition of our common humanity.
And I commend President Biden for the leadership he has shown and the example he has set.
Today I announce that Australia will provide an additional $15 million in humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza.
This adds to the $10 million Australia has already committed and will help deliver life-saving assistance such as emergency water and medical services.
The friendship between Australia and the United States was forged in hard times.
We have served and sacrificed together in the cause of peace, we have helped each other through natural disasters.
Australians and Americans share a rich history – but we always have our eye on the future.
We are united by a determination to overcome the challenges we face – and we share an ambition to seize those opportunities which lay ahead of us.
Ours is indeed an Alliance in which we celebrate what we have achieved up to now, but we focus on the future.
A future of great opportunities.
One that is stronger because of this Alliance.
JOURNALIST: Thank you, Mr President. And Prime Minister Albanese, welcome to Washington. Mr President. I want to ask about the conflict, the war in the Middle East. 24 US troops have been injured during ten drone or rocket attack on bases in Iraq and three in Syria over the past week. You’ve told Iran to, quote, be careful as your Administration tries to prevent the Israeli-Hamas war from expanding into a larger Middle East conflict. But should Americans be worried that the war already is escalating? And after you answer that question, I’d like one more follow up, please.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: One or two more. Joey, look, we have had troops in the region since 9/11 to go after ISIS and prevent its re-emergence in the region having nothing to do with Israel at all. My warning to the Ayatollah was that if they continue to move against those troops, we will respond, and he should be prepared. It has nothing to do with Israel.
JOURNALIST: Well, let me ask my follow up here. I want to discuss your conversations with Prime Minister Netanyahu, who obviously you’ve known for decades, and you had a very emotional trip there last week to Israel. Have you sought assurances from him that he will hold off on a ground invasion into Gaza until the safe release of the hostages can be assured? And, of course, those include ten unaccounted for Americans.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: No, what I have indicated to him is that if that’s possible to get these folks out safely, that’s what he should do. It is his decision. But I did not demand it. I pointed out to him if it’s real, it should be done. Thank you.
JOURNALIST: But aren’t these hostages in jeopardy if there is a ground invasion?
PRESIDENT BIDEN: You want to make a speech? Now, look, obviously they’re in jeopardy. The question is whether or not there’s any way of getting them out. If we can get them out, we get them out.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister Albanese. And welcome again to Washington. President Biden cancelled his May trip to Australia because of debt ceiling talks in Congress to avoid a first ever default here in the US. More recently, congressional action has stalled as House Republicans try to pick a Speaker. However, it does appear since we’ve been out here, that the House has elected a Congressman, Mike Johnson from Louisiana to that role. But are you worried that the gridlock in Washington will hold up the transfer of nuclear-powered subs to Australia as part of the AUKUS agreement? And are you concerned, more broadly, that the dysfunction makes the US a less reliable partner?
PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: I regard the United States as a very reliable partner. And I regard the relationship that I have with the President as second to none of the relationships that I have around the world, or indeed domestically, for that matter. It’s a relationship of trust. And I think this visit symbolises that. This is the ninth visit that I’ve had with President Biden. I got to meet President Biden when he was Vice President Biden just next door here some years ago. And I’m very confident in the discussions that I’ve had with Democrats and Republicans that there is very broad support for the AUKUS arrangements, that there will be support for the legislation going forward. And I think that would be a very good thing. It is in the interests of Australia, but it’s also in the interests of the United States. And everyone that I have spoken to similarly in the United Kingdom, across the political spectrum, are all supportive of the AUKUS arrangements. We in Australia, I’ve managed to get it so we get one question in each. Good try, but Channel Ten Australia.
JOURNALIST: President Biden, just staying with AUKUS. AUKUS is in many ways your creation. It’s Australia’s largest ever defence deal. And Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has gone all in. Can you give a personal guarantee that you can get all the necessary legislation through Congress and lock in this deal? Essentially future proofing it before the end of this presidential term?
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Do you know anyone in an elected office can give a personal guarantee that it happens?
JOURNALIST: Well, we’d like you to try.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: I’m going to try. And I believe it will get done. Look, last week, we requested $3.4 billion in supplemental funds to boost submarine production and maintenance to meet US needs and also support AUKUS. Australia is making a significant investment in the United States and its ability to produce submarines as part of this deal. And more importantly, it’s important that Congress move quickly. And the fact is that I’m confident that we can get this done. Because you remember when we put the deal together, the response of Democrats and Republicans in the United States, the response around the free world was, this is a very, very good thing. A very good thing. So, the question is not if, but when. And Jojo told us that we got a new Speaker or likely to have a new Speaker. I hope that’s true, because we have to get moving. We have to get moving. And so, I’m confident that we are going to be able to get the money for AUKUS because it’s overwhelmingly in our interest. When I was asked when we put together the deal, I was asked by Xi Jinping, were we just trying to surround China? I said, no, we’re not surrounding China. We’re just making sure that the sea lanes remain open, it doesn’t unilaterally to be able to change the rules of the road in terms of what constitutes international airspace and water, space, etc. And so, that’s what this is all about, it’s about making sure we have a close, and it’s in addition to the fact that we put together the Quad, which they didn’t like. The Quad is a very important piece as well. It’s about maintaining stability. Stability. The Taiwan Straits, the Indian Ocean, that whole area. And I think it’s going to increase the prospects for long-term peace rather than anything else.
JOURNALIST: Thank you. If I may, I have a breaking news question. And then an Israel one. First, after 22 days, House Republicans just elected Mike Johnson of Louisiana as the Speaker of the House. Johnson advocated conspiracy theories about voting machines in a rigged election in 2020. He encouraged his colleagues to join a lawsuit to invalidate the results of four states. So, if you win re-election in 2024, are you worried that a Speaker Johnson would again attempt to overturn the election?
PRESIDENT BIDEN: No.
JOURNALIST: Why not?
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Because he can’t, look, just like I was not worried that the last guy would be able to overturn the election. They have about 60 lawsuits and all the way to the Supreme Court. And every time they lost. I understand the Constitution.
JOURNALIST: If I may very quickly. In the 18 days since Hamas killed 1,400 Israelis the Hamas controlled Gaza Health Ministry says Israeli forces have killed over 6,000 Palestinians, including 2,700 children. You’ve previously asked Netanyahu to minimise civilian casualties. Do these numbers say to you that he is ignoring that message?
PRESIDENT BIDEN: What they say to me is I have no notion that Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed. I’m sure innocents have been killed. And it’s the price of waging a war. I think we should be incredibly careful. I think not we, the Israelis, should be incredibly careful to be sure that they’re focusing on going after the folks that are propagating this war against Israel. And it’s against their interest when that doesn’t happen. But I have no confidence in the number that the Palestinians are using.
JOURNALIST: Thank you. Mr President. Prime Minister Albanese, you’re travelling to China early next month. President Biden has said China should expect, quote, extreme competition from the United States. Do you support extreme competition with China? And what does that look like for you?
PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: Well, we have strategic competition in our region. That’s a fact that we are living with. The relationship with China is one where the principle that I bring to it is to cooperate where we can, disagree where we must, but engage in our national interest. It is in Australia’s interests as well as China, but I believe in the global interests, for us to have a relationship where there is dialogue. And hence I welcome the fact that I have been invited to China. I’ll be travelling at the same time as we will commemorate 50 years since the first visit by an Australian Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, to China in a short period of time now. And I think that is a positive thing. It is good that various senior representatives in the US Administration have had meetings with their Chinese counterparts in recent times. Because dialogue is always a good thing. Through dialogue comes understanding and comes a diffusion of tension. We want a peaceful and secure region. But we want one as well that’s based upon the rule of law and where national sovereignty, including issues such as the South China Sea and the right of passage in that important waterway there, the East China Sea, the Taiwan Straits, is respected. And that is Australia’s position. We cooperate very much with the United States on those matters and on others. But I look forward to a constructive dialogue when I visit Shanghai and Beijing.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Extreme competition was not conflict. Read the whole paragraph. I talked about we’re going to compete with China on every way according to international rules, economically, politically and other ways, but not I’m not looking for conflict.
JOURNALIST: President Biden, as mentioned, Prime Minister Albanese flies to Beijing next Saturday to meet the Chinese President and Premier. Your Administration has raised deep concerns over a very long period of time about the Chinese communist government’s aggressive coercion and intimidation tactics, maritime claims in the South China Sea, as we’ve seen with the situation with the Philippines, State-sponsored attacks. Last week we heard from the spy chiefs talking about theft of intellectual property on an industrial scale and obviously, human rights abuses. What do you make of China’s re-engagement with Australia? Can Australia trust Beijing? And can Australia do business with China?
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Trust but verify is the phrase. And look, China is having their own internal and external difficulties right now. China’s economic growth is stagnant compared to what it was. China has engaged in activities that Russia and many other activities that others have engaged in in terms of intimidation and dealing with other countries. But the fact is that I have met with Xi Jinping more than any other world leader has. I’ve been in over 68 of hours of private meetings, just he and I, with simultaneous interpreters, starting back when I was Vice President, because it wasn’t appropriate for a President of the United States to be meeting with the Vice President. So, I travelled 17,000 miles with them and I’ve subsequently, in addition to that 68 hours, I’ve also had another, they tell me, they keep meticulous contact as I another, I think 12-15 hours of discussions, just he and I. And I think that he is realising that there are, for example, his Belt and Road initiative. Well, we’re going to compete on that and we’re doing a different way. The Belt and Road Initiative has ended as a debt and a noose for most of the people signed on. We are working with our G7 partners to provide infrastructure for the very nations that they’re trying to deal with. For example, at the G20 we were able to act on a proposed I had to bring to build a railroad all the way from Riyadh all the way through the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Israel, up through Greece and then across, not the railroad, but pipeline across the Mediterranean up into Europe.
JOURNALIST: You’re the reliable partner, in terms of when you say you’re going to deliver something, the US and its partners have to deliver things.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Well, I hope it is not just me. I hope the United States is a reliable partner when we act. But it wasn’t just the United States that had agreed on that. Because, look, even to this day, when my discussions with the Saudis and the Crown Prince was he wants to see a reconciliation take place. It’s overwhelming in his interest. It’s in Saudi’s interest. The idea that you’d have the nations of the Middle East cooperating economically and politically changes the dynamic significantly. And so, I just think that it’s something that it’s in everyone’s interest, including, long-term in China’s interest.
JOURNALIST: Have you had a chance to speak to Benjamin Netanyahu? I know there’s been efforts made, obviously. The President was there in Israel last week. Are you still endeavouring to speak to the Israeli Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: I am. I have spoken with the Israeli Ambassador on a number of occasions. We continue to, though we understand that, obviously, Mr Netanyahu has pressures on which at the top of the list is not the discussion with the Australian Prime Minister. We understand the pressures which are there. But we have a request for a calling. Thank you.