United States (US) President Joe Biden skipped the opening dinner with NATO leaders in Vilnius, Lithuania on Tuesday, July 11.
A White House official cited the busy schedule of the President of the United States (POTUS).
Joe Biden Skips NATO Opening Dinner in Lithuania
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 21: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on infrastructure at the Portland Air National Guard base on April 21, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. The speech marks the beginning of the president's multi-day trip to the Northwest, with stops in Portland and Seattle, Washington.
Biden raised eyebrows when he skipped the opening dinner with fellow leaders in Lithuania.
According to The Independent, President Biden was nowhere to be found during the opening dinner with NATO leaders. Instead, the POTUS went back to his Lithuania hotel on Tuesday night.
As per a report by The New York Post, Secretary of State Anthony Bilken attended the NATO dinner.
Before he head back to his accommodation, Biden still cracked jokes with other NATO leaders at the key summit in Vilnius earlier in the day. He spoke with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, joking that Defense Secretary Llyod Austin "alone" could protect the entire NATO.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, together with his wife Olena, attended the fight night of the summit. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and French President Emmanual Macron were also present.
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White House Explains Biden's Absence
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 22: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks in the Roosevelt Room on the continuing situation in Afghanistan and the developments of Hurricane Henri at the White House on August 22, 2021 in Washington, DC.
Biden's decision to skip the dinner has drawn criticism, with some observers suggesting that the 80-year-old leader showed a lack of commitment to NATO. However, the White House has defended Biden's decision.
When asked why Biden skipped the opening dinner with other world leaders, a US official cited the busy schedule of the 80-year-old President in the next four days. Besides his packed agenda, he is preparing himself for a "big speech."
A White House official revealed that Biden had to return to his accommodation since he still "has four full days of official business and is preparing for a big speech tomorrow." On top of that, the President is also gearing up for "another day at the summit."
Biden will deliver a speech on Wednesday, in which he is expected to reaffirm the United States' commitment to NATO and Ukraine. He could likely discuss the security situation in Europe and the need to strengthen NATO's defenses as well.
Later on, as the Daily Mail UK reports, the White House revealed that Biden was still busy doing his work when he got back to his accommodation.
The President reportedly made a string of phone calls, speaking with Vermont Governor Phil Scott amid the widespread flooding in the state. He also talked with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and Senator Bernie Sanders regarding "his commitment to deliver federal assistance needed to help respond to severe flooding."
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