On the margins of the NATO Summit, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. briefly met today with President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand, and Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles of Australia. 

The leaders discussed the increasing connectivity between Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security, noting that challenges in one region affect the other. They strongly condemned Russia’s war against Ukraine, and each pledged to continue to support Ukraine in its self-defense. President Biden welcomed the courageous support to Ukraine offered by each of NATO’s Indo-Pacific Partners. The leaders also strongly condemned the unlawful arms transfers from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to Russia, which undermine peace and stability in both the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions. They expressed grave concern over the increasing military and economic cooperation between Russia and the DPRK, which violates multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. The leaders also discussed their shared concerns over the People’s Republic of China’s support to Russia’s defense industrial base.

President Biden welcomed the growing contributions of NATO’s Indo-Pacific Partners to global security, including their investments in defense, support to Ukraine, and strong leadership in the Indo-Pacific. The leaders welcomed the four new flagship projects between NATO and its Indo-Pacific Partners, focused on support to Ukraine; cyber defense; exchanging information on the challenges posted by disinformation; and artificial intelligence. They agreed to further build on these efforts in the months and years ahead.

The leaders welcomed that Secretary Blinken and the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea intend to meet later this year to advance further cooperation among our countries.

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