Biden Warns Russia, But Words Don’t Impress Moscow

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

(Worthy News) – U.S. President Joe Biden began his first official overseas trip Thursday with a warning to Russia, but his remarks didn’t impress Moscow.

Addressing U.S. troops and their families at the RAF Mildenhall airbase in Suffolk, England, Biden said he would deliver a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “We’re not seeking conflict with Russia. We want a stable and predictable relationship … but I’ve been clear: The United States will respond in a robust and meaningful way if the Russian government engages in harmful activities.”

His remarks came while Moscow continued a crackdown on dissent.
On Wednesday, a court in Moscow banned political organizations linked to jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny ahead of the Biden-Putin meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.

Putin earlier made clear he would not accept interference in how he runs his nation. It was not immediately clear how Biden intended to overcome these differences.

The White House only indicated that Biden wants to cover a “full range of pressing issues” with his Russian counterpart, including the jailing of Russian dissident Navalny.

Three organizations linked to Navalny were outlawed by the Russian court for being “extremist.” Other issues Biden wants to tackle are arms control and climate change as well as Russian military involvement in Ukraine and Russia’s cyber-hacking activities, the White House announced.

US ALLIES

President Biden also clarified that he wants to boost ties with US allies after strained relations under the previous Trump administration.

While in Britain, Biden will attend the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Cornwall when the world still faces the aftermath of coronavirus restrictions.

President Biden also meets Prime Minister Boris Johnson to agree on a new “Atlantic Charter.” The pact will be a modern version of the one agreed between Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt in 1941, focusing on challenges including climate change and security.

Biden’s expected arrival for the G7 summit didn’t go as planned. A hotel near the gathering site in Cornwall was reportedly evacuated following reports of a suspicious package.

Devon & Cornwall Police said officers were called to the Falmouth Hotel in Falmouth about 3.15 am following reports of a suspicious package on the hotel’s grounds, The Telegraph newspaper reported.

No more details were immediately revealed. Falmouth is around a 40-minute drive from the Carbis Bay Hotel, where leaders from the world’s most powerful democracies will gather for the G7 summit Friday.

After the summit ends, the president and first lady were to meet the Queen at Windsor Castle. Biden will then depart for Brussels and later Geneva in Switzerland for a possible tense summit with Russian President Putin.

Latest Worthy News