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10 July 2024
The 46th | Defiant Biden opens NATO Summit
President Joe Biden gave a defiant speech at the opening of the NATO summit in Washington DC yesterday, defending his foreign policy record and the alliance – only hours after heading off a leadership revolt in his own party.
“Russia will not prevail,” said President Biden, speaking about the Ukraine war to a room of world leaders gathered for the 75th anniversary of NATO. “Before this war, Putin thought NATO would break. Today, NATO is stronger than it’s ever been.”
The speech comes after a brutal week for President Biden who has faced an onslaught of calls to step down over concerns about his age and cognitive ability. Yet despite reports of a back-door plan by Senate Democrats to discuss the president’s candidacy, Democrats appeared to fall in line behind President Biden yesterday.
“We’re ridin’ with Biden,” prominent Black Congressman James Clyburn repeated to reporters after a two-hour long, closed-door caucus meeting.
Earlier in the week, President Biden issued a pre-emptive letter to his party rebutting concerns about his candidacy and took steps to lock in the support of the Congressional Black Caucus.
The shaky show of unity may not be enough to save Democrats as they head into the November election however, with one Democratic senator predicting a “landslide” victory for Republican nominee Donald Trump.
The latest national poll taken by Emerson College shows Trump up three points, leading President Biden 46 per cent to 43 per cent.
NEWS WRAP
‘What happens in Ukraine today can happen in Asia tomorrow’ - NATO Chief
Warning from NATO | The Pacific is of growing importance to NATO as the axis deepens between Russia, China, North Korea and Iran, said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on the eve of the NATO Summit in Washington DC this week. Highlighting China’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, he said a defeat in Ukraine would not only embolden President Putin, “it also would embolden President Xi.” READ MORE HERE
Biden condemns Russian airstrikes | A day of mourning was observed in Ukraine after a wave of Russian missile attacks killed 41 people and injured 166. President Biden described the attacks, which also targeted Ukraine's largest children’s hospital, as a “horrific reminder of Russia’s brutality” while pledging to boost Ukraine’s air defences. READ MORE HERE
Boeing guilty of criminal fraud | Boeing will plead guilty to a charge that it deceived US regulators about the safety of its planes after two crashes that killed 346 people aboard its 737 jets in 2018 and 2019. The plea deal will shield the company, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of commercial airplanes, from a criminal trial. READ MORE HERE
Haley-Trump détente | Despite being uninvited to the Republican National Convention, Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has extended another olive branch to Donald Trump, releasing all her delegates and urging them to vote for him. READ MORE HERE
Why Trump is winning on TikTok | Despite once pledging to ban it, Donald Trump now boasts 7.4 million followers on TikTok, compared to President Joe Biden’s 405,000. A pro-Biden influencer tells Politico that the difference could be due to the Biden Campaign’s policy-driven, or “intellectual” content. She said it is no match for Trump’s: “I’m Donald Trump, and I’m at a UFC fight” appeal. READ MORE HERE
"If the Lord Almighty came down and said, ‘Joe, get out of the race,’ I’d get out of the race. The Lord Almighty’s not coming down.”
President Joe Biden on ABC News | 3 July 2024
EVENT
Election Watch 2024 | In Trump they trust: Reflections on the Republican National Convention
As the 2024 US election season reaches fever pitch, Republican nominee Donald Trump is preparing for his coronation for a third time at the Republican National Convention (RNC). To explore what Australians should be watching for at the RNC, the USSC is hosting a live panel featuring the co-host of ABC TV's Planet America Chas Licciardello alongside President Ronald Reagan's Former Assistant Press Secretary Kim Hoggard, and the USSC's Director of Research Jared Mondschein. The panel will be moderated by the USSC's Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck.
WHEN
19 July 2024, 6.00pm–8.00pm AEST
WHERE
Auditorium, the Michael Spence Building (F23), Corner of Eastern Avenue and City Road, The University of Sydney, Camperdown NSW
COST
FREE
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Did you USSC?
EXPLAINER | Countdown to Trump's VP pick
From Doug Burgum to Marco Rubio, here's all you need to know about who's on Donald Trump's shortlist for vice president. READ HERECOMMENTARY | For Democrats, replacing Biden will solve one problem but create another
USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Bruce Wolpe on President Biden's refusal to pass the torch; how this could affect the Democrats' House races; and the risks of Vice President Kamala Harris replacing him as nominee. READ HERECOMMENTARY | The end of superpower conflict was ‘a fantasy era.' The West underestimated Russia and China – the cold wars are back
USSC Professor Peter Dean on how the West was blindsided by the rise of Russia and China. READ HERECOMMENTARY | Will Biden step aside?
USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Bruce Wolpe on President Biden's refusal to step down and where this leaves the Democratic Party. READ HERE- COMMENTARY | Why Australia shouldn’t pursue sovereign AI
USSC Visiting Fellow Professor Susan Aaronson on the expense, difficulties and risks involved with Australia creating its own foundational AI model. READ HERE - PODCAST | Why Trump and Biden? How the US system led to their selection
Professor Raymond La Raja talks to the USSC Briefing Room podcast about how the US system and campaign financing selects for candidates outside the mainstream. LISTEN HERE - PODCAST | NATO and the Indo-Pacific
USSC CEO Dr Michael Green spoke to Benedetta Berti, Director of Policy Planning in the Office of the Secretary General at NATO about NATO’s developing perspectives on the Indo-Pacific region. LISTEN HERE
BY THE NUMBERS
NATO’s Indo-Pacific ties
While NATO leaders are expected to make an additional AU$64.2 billion pledge for the Ukraine war at the NATO Summit this week, NATO is increasingly receiving support from further afield from its Indo-Pacific partners. To date, Japan has given AU$11.67 billion in total contributions to Ukraine – the fourth highest allocation globally – according the Kiel Institute’s Ukraine Support Tracker.
In the last decade, NATO has taken steps to strengthen its partnership with the Indo-Pacific Four, comprised of Japan, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand. For the third year running, all four countries will attend the inaugural NATO Summit. Their presence there reflects the convergence of global geopolitical challenges as the United States, NATO and its allies work to respond to Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.
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United States Studies Centre
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University of Sydney NSW 2006
