US President Joe Biden said Thursday that the United States must deepen its support for Ukraine and Israel amid two very different, unpredictable, and bloody wars, saying, “America’s leadership is what unites the world.”
In a rare Oval Office speech, Biden acknowledged that “these conflicts seem far away,” but insisted they remain “vital to America’s national security,” and said he would ask Congress for billions of dollars in military aid for both countries.
“History has taught us that when terrorists don’t pay for their terror, when dictators don’t pay the price for their aggression, they cause more chaos, death, and destruction,” Biden said. “Alright then. And the cost and threat to the United States and the world continue to rise.
Biden’s speech showed a broad view of the United States’ obligations abroad at a time when he faces political resistance at home to provide more funding. He is expected to request $105 billion on Friday, including $60 billion for Ukraine, much of which will replenish US arsenals.
There is also 14 billion for Israel, 10 billion for humanitarian work, 14 billion for managing the border between the United States and Mexico and combating fentanyl trafficking, and 7 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, which includes Taiwan. The proposal was described by three people familiar with the details who insisted on anonymity ahead of the official announcement.
“This is a wise investment that will pay dividends for American security for generations,” Biden said.
The president hopes that the combination of all these issues in a legislative text will create the coalition necessary for its approval in Congress. His speech came a day after his trip to Israel, where he expressed his solidarity with the country after the attack carried out by Hamas on October 7 and called for more humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.
As Israel continues to bomb the Gaza Strip and prepares a ground invasion, Biden has placed greater emphasis on the deadly toll the conflict has taken on the civilian population in the area, saying that he was “distressed by the terrible loss of life.” Palestinians.
“Israel and the Palestinians alike deserve to live in security, dignity, and peace,” Biden said. He also warned of a rising wave of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in the United States, pointing to the killing of a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy.
“To all those who are suffering, I want you to know that I remember you. They are part of me. And I want to tell you this: You are all Americans.
As Biden seeks a second term in a campaign likely to hinge on voters’ views on the economy, he has been careful to emphasize that the spending will create jobs for American workers, referring to the Arizona missile factory and the artillery shells in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas.
