In his first official visit, Biden will seek to address a wide range of bilateral issues from defense and migration to climate change, according to the White House
OTTAWA, Canada—President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will arrive in Ottawa this evening, starting off a two-day official visit to Canada’s capital. Biden will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and address the Canadian Parliament on Friday during his first visit to America’s key ally.
Biden and Trudeau are expected to discuss a variety of issues, including defense cooperation, supply chains, China, climate change, and energy transition.
“We’re going to talk about our two democracies stepping up to meet the challenges of our time,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on March 22. “That includes taking concrete steps to increase defense spending, driving a global race to the top on clean energy, and building prosperous and inclusive economies.”
The Chinese spy balloon incident, Kirby added, was “a good reminder” that both nations need to keep defense capabilities, especially air defense, at the cutting edge. Hence, the modernization of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the shared continental air defense network, specifically will be on the table during the meetings, he said.
The war in Ukraine, as well as the opioid crisis and instability in Haiti, will be other major topics of discussion, according to the White House.
Biden’s first visit to Canada as president occurs after more than two years in the office. U.S. presidents typically make their first international trip to Canada shortly after assuming office.
Also, this will be the first time the two leaders will hold in-person bilateral meeting in Canada since 2009, according to the White House.
Trade and North American supply chains will also be discussed during these meetings as both countries struggle with high inflation.
Biden will follow in the footsteps of previous U.S. presidents such as John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama by addressing the Canadian Parliament during his visit.
“In his remarks, the President will underscore how the U.S.-Canada partnership benefits not only our two countries but the entire world, and that by working together, we can address some of the biggest challenges we face,” Kirby said.
When the president and first lady arrive in the evening, they will join the prime minister and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, for “an intimate gathering at their residence,” he said.
And following the bilateral meetings and the address to the Parliament, both leaders are expected to hold a joint press conference on Friday. In the evening, the president and first lady will attend a gala dinner at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum.
Biden’s visit comes at a time when leaked intelligence documents in Canada have shown that China has been trying to interfere in Canadian elections, including allegations that at least 11 candidates in the 2019 election were funded by Beijing. In response to growing concerns on the issue, Trudeau’s government has named a special rapporteur to look into the allegations. Opposition have been demanding a public inquiry, which Trudeau has rejected.
During a recent press conference, Trudeau said he would be discussing China-related issues with Biden during his two-day visit to Canada.
However, he stated that China is not one of the main topics he intends to discuss with Biden, and that issues such as climate change, job growth, and the supply of critical minerals will take precedence.
