Biden Bits: Had a Very Productive Three Days…

May 23, 2022 12:00 pm EDT Tiff Biden Tweets (Open Thread) Comments Off on Biden Bits: Had a Very Productive Three Days…
Biden Tweets Logo. Image by Lenny Ghoul.

It’s Monday.

When Biden Bits was posted for Friday, President Biden had tweeted 3 times. He added 7 tweets giving him a Friday Tweeting Total of 10 tweets and 0 retweets.

In order to hopefully save time and energy; Saturday’s Tweeting Total was 6 tweets and 2 retweets and Sunday’s Tweeting Total was 10 tweets and 0 retweets.

The Republic of Korea Visit Tweets:

On Friday, President Biden toured the Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus
Pyeongtaek, Republic of Korea. After the tour President Biden offered remarks. The YouTube is 15 minutes and 59 seconds long.

President Biden: Our two nations work together to make the best, most advanced technology in the world.  And this factory is proof of that. And that gives both the Republic of Korea and the United States a competitive edge in the global economy if — if — we can keep our supply chains resilient, reliable, and secure.

President Biden: Over the last few years, we’ve seen just how critical it is.  COVID-19 pandemic — the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of “just in time” supply chains.  A global semiconductor shortage has caused a shortfall in consumer goods, especially automobiles, and it is contributing to higher prices around the world. And now, Putin’s brutal and unprovoked war on Ukraine has further spotlighted the need to secure our critical supply chains so that our economy — our economic and our national security are not dependent on countries that don’t share our values.

President Biden: A critical component of how we’ll do that, in my view, is by working with close partners who do share our values, like the Republic of Korea, to secure more of what we need from our allies and partners and bolster our supply chain resilience. That’s why our strategy is to build around strengthening our ties and our cooperation across the board.  That’s how both our nations can improve our long-term resilience, increase our shared prosperity, and put our people in the best position to come out ahead in the competition for the 21st century.

President Biden: And that’s why, Mr. President, I came to the Republic in [of] Korea on my first trip to Asia as President of the United States.  So much — so much of the future of the world is going to be written here in the Indo-Pacific over the next several decades.

President Biden: So, this is the moment, in my view, to invest in one another, to deepen our business ties, to bring our people even closer together.

The video snip is 55 seconds long.

President Biden: This plant also reflects the close bonds in innovation between our countries.  Much of the technology and machinery that is used to make these chips was designed and produced in the United States. And by uniting our skills and our technological know-how, it allows the production of chips that are critical to both our countries and are essential — essential — sectors of our global economy. And thanks for the incredible $17 billion investment that Samsung announced last May, soon to the United States — to have a facility like this one that manufactures the most advanced chips in the world in Tylor [Taylor], Texas.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

President Biden: Our two nations work together to make the best, most advanced technology in the world.  And this factory is proof of that. And that gives both the Republic of Korea and the United States a competitive edge in the global economy if — if — we can keep our supply chains resilient, reliable, and secure.

Saturday’s Trips Tweets:

On Saturday President Biden participated in a wreath-laying ceremony to pay respects to those who died to defend the Republic of Korea. The tweet is the message he left in the guest book.

Sunday’s Trip Tweets:

The White House posted the following readout of; President Biden’s Meeting with Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in Seoul. Both Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the U.S.-ROK alliance and to broaden its focus beyond the Korean Peninsula to take on global challenges, including threats to the rules-based international order, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The two Leaders committed to increase cooperation on a broad range of priority issues including critical technologies, economic and energy security, global health, and climate change. The Presidents also discussed their shared belief in constitutional democracy and the importance of respecting individual rights as well as strengthening the regional security environment. They committed to further strengthen deterrence and ensure close cooperation to address the threat posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Both Leaders shared concerns about the rapid spread of COVID-19 within the DPRK and expressed support for working with the international community to provide assistance. 

White House.gov. 05/21/2022.

The White House posted the following Joint-Statement:

President Yoon Suk Yeol welcomes President Joseph R. Biden to the Republic of Korea (ROK), marking the earliest meeting in a ROK President’s term in office with the President of the United States (U.S.). Founded in our shared sacrifice and honed by our deep security ties, the Alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States continues to evolve and expand. The linchpin for peace and prosperity in the region, the Alliance has grown far beyond the Korean peninsula, reflecting the pivotal role of our countries as global leaders in democracy, economy, and technology. Faced with existential challenges like climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, and growing threats to the rules-based international order, foremost among which is Russia’s further aggression against Ukraine, the Republic of Korea and the United States are unified in common determination to deepen and broaden our political, economic, security, and people-to-people ties.

The two Presidents deeply appreciate the recent accomplishments of the Alliance and pledge to continue building off of its rock solid foundation.

White House.gov. 05/21/2022.

The Linchpin for Peace and Prosperity

President Yoon and President Biden reaffirm their mutual commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and the combined defense posture under the ROK-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty. President Biden affirms the U.S. extended deterrence commitment to the ROK using the full range of U.S. defense capabilities, including nuclear, conventional, and missile defense capabilities. The two Presidents also agree to reactivate the high-level Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group at the earliest date. Both leaders commit to further strengthen deterrence by reinforcing combined defense posture, and reiterate commitment to a conditions-based transition of wartime operational control. With this in mind, and considering the evolving threat posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), both leaders agree to initiate discussions to expand the scope and scale of combined military exercises and training on and around the Korean Peninsula. Both leaders also reaffirm the commitment of the U.S. to deploy strategic U.S. military assets in a timely and coordinated manner as necessary, as well as to enhance such measures and identify new or additional steps to reinforce deterrence in the face of DPRK destabilizing activities. In this vein, the United States and ROK will significantly expand cooperation to confront a range of cyber threats from the DPRK, including but not limited to, state-sponsored cyber-attacks.

President Yoon and President Biden reiterate their common goal of the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and agree to further strengthen the airtight coordination to this end. The two Presidents share the view that the DPRK’s nuclear program presents a grave threat not only to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula but also the rest of Asia and the world. Both leaders condemn the DPRK’s escalatory ballistic missile tests this year, including multiple launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles, as clear violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions and reaffirm their joint commitment to work with the international community to urge the DPRK to abandon its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.Both leaders urge all UN Member States to fully implement all United Nations Security Council resolutions and also call on the DPRK to abide by its obligations under UN Security Council resolutions as well as its previous commitments and agreements.

President Yoon and President Biden emphasize that the path to dialogue remains open toward peaceful and diplomatic resolution with the DPRK and call on DPRK to return to negotiations. President Yoon outlined his vision to normalize inter-Korean relationship through an audacious plan aimed at a denuclearized and prosperous Korean peninsula and President Biden expresses his support for inter-Korean cooperation. Both leaders underscore the importance of ROK-U.S.-Japan trilateral cooperation for responding to the DPRK’s challenges, protecting shared security and prosperity, upholding common values, and bolstering the rules-based international order.

President Yoon and President Biden express grave concern over the human rights situation in the DPRK. The two Presidents also reaffirm their commitment to facilitate the provision of humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable North Koreans. Both leaders express concern over the recent COVID-19 outbreak in the DPRK. The ROK and the U.S. are willing to work with the international community to provide assistance to the DPRK to combat the virus.

White House.gov. 05/21/2022.

A Strategic Economic and Technology Partnership

President Yoon and President Biden recognize that the future of the Alliance will be defined by common efforts to address 21st century challenges. In this vein, the two Presidents pledge to deepen and broaden cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, and cyber security. Both leaders also pledge to develop, use, and advance technologies in line with shared democratic principles and universal values.

President Yoon and President Biden recognize the importance of deepening cooperation on economic and energy security, which are critical to safeguarding our prosperity, shared security, and collective interests. To support these initiatives, the two Presidents will direct respective National Security Councils to launch an economic security dialogue aimed to align the bureaucratic and policy approaches between the two governments.

Fully recognizing that scientists, researchers, and engineers of the ROK and the U.S. are among the most innovative in the world, the two Presidents agree to leverage this comparative advantage to enhance public and private cooperation to protect and promote critical and emerging technologies, including leading-edge semiconductors, eco-friendly EV batteries, Artificial Intelligence, quantum technology, biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and autonomous robotics. Moreover, the two Presidents also reaffirm their active support for people-to-people exchanges between experts in these fields. To this end, the two Presidents agree to work together to enhance partnership on these critical and emerging technologies in both countries through the promotion of investment as well as research and development cooperation. Recognizing the growing potential for ROK-U.S. cooperation in the defense industry, the two leaders agree to strengthen partnerships in areas such as defense sector supply chain, joint development and manufacturing, including beginning discussions on a Reciprocal Defense Procurement agreement.

Secure, sustainable, and resilient global supply chains are foundational to these efforts. Building upon international cooperation fostered by the U.S.-led Summit on Global Supply Chain Resilience, and by working closely together in the upcoming Ministerial-level summit, the two Presidents agree to continue working together to tackle immediate and long-term challenges in the supply chain ecosystem. Both leaders agree to strengthen the resiliency and diversity of these networks including by cooperating on early warning systems to detect and address potential supply chain disruptions and working together to address sourcing and processing of critical minerals. The two Presidents also agree to establish a regular ministerial-level Supply Chain and Commercial Dialogue to discuss promotion of resilient supply chains of key products, including semiconductors, batteries, and critical minerals. Both leaders also agree to enhance cooperation between our foreign investment screening and export control authorities related to critical technologies, which is necessary to prevent the use of advanced technologies to undermine our national and economic security.

Recognizing the importance of energy security as well as commitment to address climate change given the rapid increase of volatility in the global energy market as a result of Russia’s further aggression against Ukraine, the two Presidents will work to strengthen joint collaboration in securing energy supply chains that include fossil fuels, and enriched uranium, acknowledging that true energy security means rapidly deploying clean energy technology and working to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels.

The two leaders recognize the importance of nuclear energy as a critical and reliable source of carbon-free electricity, an important element to grow our clean energy economy, and an integral part of enhancing global energy security. The two leaders commit to greater nuclear energy collaboration and accelerating the development and global deployment of advanced reactors and small modular reactors by jointly using export promotion and capacity building tools, and building a more resilient nuclear supply chain. The two Presidents reaffirm that both countries will engage in global civil-nuclear cooperation in accordance with the highest standards of nuclear nonproliferation, including the IAEA Additional Protocol as the standard for both international safeguards and for nuclear supply arrangements. Acknowledging the shared goals of deepening strategic ties, while respecting each country’s intellectual investments, both leaders commit to using tools such as the ROK-U.S. Memorandum of Understanding on Nuclear Technology Transfer and Export Cooperation to provide a solid foundation for strengthened cooperation in the U.S., ROK and overseas nuclear markets and the High-Level Bilateral Commission, to further cooperation for spent fuel management, nuclear export promotion, assured fuel supply and nuclear security. The U.S. welcomes the ROK’s decision to join the U.S.-led Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) program.

President Yoon and President Biden commit to strengthening the ROK-U.S. alliance across all sectors of space cooperation. Building on the ROK’s previous commitment to participate in the Artemis program, the two Presidents agreed to foster joint research in space exploration and to support the ROK’s development of the Korean Positioning System (KPS). Both leaders agree to hold “the 3rd U.S.-ROK Civil Space Dialogue” by the end of the year, and to strengthen cooperation on the two countries space industries. They also commit to continue cooperation to ensure a safe, secure, and sustainable space environment including through the bilateral space policy dialogue and committed to strengthen defense space partnerships including through joint exercises.

President Yoon and President Biden agree that the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, remains the foundation of our economic relationship. To promote sustainable growth and financial stability, including orderly and well-functioning foreign exchange markets, the two Presidents recognize the need to consult closely on foreign exchange market developments. The two Presidents share common values and an essential interest in fair, market-based competition and commit to work together to address market distorting practices.

White House.gov. 05/21/2022.

Global Comprehensive Strategic Alliance: Beyond the Korean Peninsula

Faced with increasingly complex global challenges including the threats posed by climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, President Yoon laid out the ROK’s initiative for a global pivotal state that envisions a heightened role in advancing freedom, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. The two Presidents reaffirm their commitments to a global comprehensive strategic alliance firmly rooted in the shared values of promoting democracy and the rules-based international order, fighting corruption, and advancing human rights. President Biden appreciated President Yoon’s initiative to embrace greater regional and global responsibilities, and enthusiastically welcome the ROK taking a leadership role in the Summit for Democracy process.

Acknowledging the existential threat posed by climate change, President Yoon and President Biden reaffirm their commitments to their announced nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement including the 2030 greenhouse gas reduction targets and 2050 net zero emission goals with strong efforts to align policies across sectors. The two Presidents also agree to enhance cooperation to address methane emissions globally, recognizing the importance of the Global Methane Pledge and rapid global action needed to address methane. The two Presidents also decide to strengthen cooperation in clean energy fields such as hydrogen, clean shipping, accelerated deployment of zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) and aligning international financial flows with global net zero emissions by 2050 and deep reductions in the 2020s.

President Yoon and President Biden pledge to support in strengthening multilateral efforts to prevent, prepare, and respond to infectious disease threats. President Yoon underscored President Biden’s leadership in convening the Global COVID-19 Summit in May 2022, and President Biden appreciated President Yoon’s active participation and ROK’s announced pledges, including funding for the Act-Accelerator to combat COVID-19 and support for the Financial Intermediary Fund for pandemic preparedness and global health security at the World Bank. President Biden welcomes the ROK’s decision to host a Global Health Security Agenda ministerial meeting this Fall and establish a GHS coordinating office for global and regional sustainable health security in Seoul. Our countries will also increase efforts bilaterally and in multilateral fora to promote biosafety and biosecurity norms. The U.S. and ROK will also strengthen health systems and build on successful health sector collaboration to accelerate cooperation and innovation in cancer research, cutting edge cancer treatments, mental health research, early detection, and treatment of mental health disorders.

President Yoon and President Biden highlight their shared belief in the extraordinary benefits afforded by an open, free, global, interoperable, reliable, and secure Internet. To combat the rising threats posed by digital authoritarianism, they committed to defend human rights and foster an open “network of networks” that ensures the free flow of information globally. To achieve this, the ROK is ready to join the U.S. in endorsing the Declaration for the Future of the Internet. The two Presidents also reaffirm the need to ensure that the Internet continues to play a positive role in promoting equity, equality and safety for women and girls in both our societies. To this end, the U.S. and the ROK joined the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse as founding members. Recognizing the importance of telecommunications security and vendor diversity, the leaders also commit to work together to develop open, transparent, and secure 5G and 6G network devices and architectures using Open-RAN approaches, both at home and abroad.

President Yoon and President Biden will continue to deepen ROK-U.S. cooperation on regional and international cyber policy, including cooperation on deterring cyber adversaries, cybersecurity of critical infrastructure, combatting cybercrime and associated money laundering, securing cryptocurrency and blockchain applications, capacity building, cyber exercises, information sharing, military-to-military cyber cooperation, and other international security issues in cyberspace.

President Yoon and President Biden oppose all activities that undermine, destabilize, or threaten the rules-based international order and stand together with the international community in condemning Russia’s unprovoked further aggression against Ukraine. Both countries, alongside other international partners, have responded resolutely to this clear violation of international law, by imposing their own financial sanctions and export controls against Russia and Russian entities, along with the vital provision of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Both leaders affirm that they will ensure the effective implementation of their country’s respective measures to deter further Russian aggression and maintain our commitment to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The two Presidents recognize the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific that is prosperous and peaceful, and agree to strengthen mutual cooperation across the region. In this regard, President Biden shares his support for President Yoon’s initiative to formulate ROK’s own Indo-Pacific strategy framework. President Yoon also welcomed the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy. The two Presidents commit to cooperate closely through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), based on the principles of openness, transparency, and inclusiveness. Both leaders agree to work together to develop a comprehensive IPEF that will deepen economic engagement on priority issues, including the digital economy, resilient supply chains, clean energy, and other priorities geared toward promoting sustainable economic growth.

President Yoon and President Biden also reaffirm their strong support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. The two Presidents commit to increase cooperation with Southeast Asia and the Pacific Island Countries to promote sustainable development, energy security, and high-quality, transparent investment, including in quality infrastructure. President Biden welcomes President Yoon’s interest in the Quad, and noted complementary ROK strengths including tackling the pandemic, fighting climate change and producing critical technologies. The two leaders also agree to cooperate on infrastructure financing, including digital infrastructure, in third countries. The two Presidents emphasize the importance of ROK-U.S.- Japan trilateral cooperation to effectively address common economic challenges.

President Yoon and President Biden reaffirm their commitment to maintain peace and stability, lawful unimpeded commerce, and respect for international law including freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful use of the seas, including in the South China Sea and beyond. The two Presidents reiterate the importance of preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as an essential element in security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Sharing our mutual concerns regarding human rights situations in the Indo-Pacific region, both leaders commit to promote human rights and rule of law globally. The two Presidents resolutely condemn the coup in Myanmar and the military’s brutal attacks on civilians, and commit to press for the immediate cessation of violence, the release of those who are detained, unfettered countrywide humanitarian access, and a swift return to democracy. The two Presidents call on all nations to join us in providing safe haven to Burmese nationals and in prohibiting arms sales to Myanmar.

President Yoon and President Biden share the view that the Alliance has matured into a deep and comprehensive strategic relationship. Through our close ties between the two dynamic populations, extensive economic and investment links, and commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rules-based international order, the ROK and the U.S. are charting a path toward a relationship that is capable of meeting any challenge and seizing all the opportunities presented before us. President Yoon and President Biden jointly recognize the importance of our shared commitments and pledge to work tirelessly to broaden and deepen our ties to position us to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

President Biden expressed his gratitude for President Yoon’s warm hospitality and extended an invitation for President Yoon to visit Washington at a time of mutual convenience.

White House.gov. 05/21/2022.

The Two leaders held a joint press conference. The YouTube 32 minutes and 12 seconds long. Their full remarks can be found here.

The White House posted remarks; by President Biden and President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea at Official Dinner but no video has been uploaded to YouTube at this time.

The White House did post this video where President Biden is joined by the Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group. The YouTube is 9 minutes and 53 seconds long. President Biden’s full remarks can be found here.

Reuters said on Sunday; Hyundai Motor Group said on Sunday it would invest an additional $5 billion in the United States by 2025 to strengthen collaboration with U.S. firms in advanced technology. The investments, announced during a visit to Seoul by President Joe Biden, are for robotics, urban air mobility, autonomous driving and artificial intelligence, the group said.

President Biden said the facility in Georgia is expected to break ground in 2023.

The plan is to break ground as soon as January of 2023.  And the new facility should be rolling out the latest electric vehicles and batteries to power them by 2025.

White House.gov. 05/22/2022.

The White House has not posted a video of his remarks given at the Air Operations Center’s Combat Operations Floor on Osan Air Base. Yet, I assume the videos will be uploaded sometime in the coming days.

Given he’s out of the country and time zones are real, much of what happened on Monday for President Biden has already happened…

The White House posted the following readout; of President Biden’s Meeting with Prime Minister Kishida of Japan

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan today, to advance cooperation on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues. The President commended Prime Minister Kishida’s leadership in responding to Russia’s war against Ukraine, and his determination to strengthen Japan’s defense capabilities, noting that a strong U.S.-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of peace and stability in Indo-Pacific region. The two leaders committed to work closely together to address security challenges, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) nuclear and ballistic missile programs and China’s increasingly coercive behavior that runs counter to international law. They agreed to deepen cooperation in areas such as emerging technologies, supply chain security, and clean energy.

White House.gov. 05/23/2022.

The White House posted the following fact-sheet on; The U.S.-Japan Competitiveness and Resilience (CoRe) Partnership

The United States and Japan, as the world’s two largest democratic economies, resolve to promote prosperity and to strengthen the rules-based economic order in the Indo-Pacific region and the world.  Together, the two countries recognize the progress made under the U.S.-Japan Competitiveness and Resilience (CoRe) Partnership announced in April 2021 and commit to broaden and deepen bilateral economic cooperation including through the Economic Policy Consultative Committee announced in January 2022. 

White House.gov. 05/23/2022.

Competitiveness and Innovation

  • Digital Economy:
    • The United States and Japan launched the Global Digital Connectivity Partnership in May 2021 to further promote secure connectivity and a vibrant global digital economy.
    • The United States and Japan promoted an open, free, global, interoperable, reliable, and secure Internet at the 12th U.S.-Japan Policy Cooperation Dialogue on the Internet Economy, and endorsed the Declaration for the Future of the Internet.
    • The United States and Japan continued to promote sustainable smart cities, including through the Integrated Urban Services Program Launch Workshop in August 2021 and the APEC conference in September 2021.
  • Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN):  
    • The United States and Japan strengthened collaboration on 5G supplier diversification and Open RAN, both bilaterally and through the Quad.
    • The United States and Japan supported industry-led efforts to promote a diverse and competitive telecommunications marketplace with trusted suppliers through the launch of the Prague Proposals on Telecommunications Supplier Diversity. 
    • The United States, in collaboration with Japan, will launch in 2022 an Open RAN training academy in Southeast Asia to improve access to skilled workers needed to deploy Open RAN, drive workforce development, and promote supplier diversity.
    • Japan funded an R&D lab in Texas to help telecommunications companies to evaluate and verify interoperability of 5G mobile base stations compliant with Open RAN.
    • U.S. and Japanese officials and private sector representatives engaged Latin American officials through visits, workshops and seminars to advance secure 5G networks and open and interoperable technologies, including Open RAN.
    • Japan held the Beyond 5G International Conference with high-level U.S. representation and aligned visions for the development and deployment of next generation network technologies.  Our countries intend to fund new joint research and development projects on 5G and Beyond 5G, including those using Open RAN (including v-RAN) technologies, in addition to projects funded under the Japan-U.S. Network Opportunity (JUNO) program.
  • Cybersecurity/Critical Infrastructure Resilience: 
    • The United States and Japan concurred on the urgent need to take a collective approach to enhancing cybersecurity in an increasingly digital world with sophisticated cyber threats.
    • The United States and Japan, together with the EU, will organize the flagship Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Week to provide training in the Indo-Pacific Region.
    • The United States plans to provide cybersecurity training resources for the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre funded and supported by Japan.
    • The United States and Japan commit to improving the defense of our nations’ critical infrastructure by sharing threat information.
  • Collaboration in the Indo-Pacific:  
    • The United States and Japan, together with Australia, are partnering with the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Kiribati, and Nauru to improve internet connectivity through a new undersea telecommunications cable.
    • The United States and Japan, together with Australia, will promote designing certification frameworks for quality infrastructure projects under the Blue Dot Network with support of the OECD, and in alignment with the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment and the G20 Operational Guidelines for Sustainable Financing.
    • The United States and Japan will cooperate on supporting quality infrastructure development in emerging markets and encouraging the U.S. and Japanese private sectors to support infrastructure projects that advance global goals in such key areas as climate, digital economy and sustainable development including through the Memorandum of Cooperation between U.S. Trade and Development Agency and Japan Bank for International Cooperation.
    • The United States and Japan, along with Australia and New Zealand, are collaborating on the Papua New Guinea Electrification Partnership (PEP), which supports PNG’s ambitious goal of increasing the electrification rate from 13 percent to 70 percent by 2030.
  • Science and Technology Cooperation:
    • The United States and Japan held the 16th Japan-U.S. Joint Working-Level Committee (JWLC) Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation in June 2021 to discuss the full range of science and technology cooperation between our countries, such as quantum technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and climate change technology. 
    • The United States and Japan signed the Project Arrangement on quantum information science, which will promote research and development on quantum communication, computing, sensors, and materials.
    • The United States and Japan intend to conduct joint research and development projects of critical and emerging technologies for respective economic security interests, foreseeing the potential future acquisition and utilization of such technologies, not only between the two countries but also together with other like-minded countries.
    • The United States and Japan acknowledged the progress of collaboration on Privacy Enhancing Technologies and welcomed the planned workshop towards future implementation of the technology.
    • The United States and Japan seek to accelerate innovation and startup collaboration to enhance competitiveness, possibly through Japan’s concept to establish a “Startup Campus.”
  • Civil Space Cooperation:
    • The United States and Japan intend to complete the negotiation on the Framework Agreement in 2022 and conclude it in 2023, which will expand bilateral cooperation for decades to come across a wide variety of space exploration, scientific, and research activities.
    • The United States and Japan announced that they are committed to a Japanese astronaut opportunity on the Gateway, a human outpost in the lunar vicinity, as part of expanding Artemis collaboration.
    • The United States and Japan also announced continued progress on our Artemis collaboration for human and robotic lunar surface missions, including a shared ambition to see a future Japanese astronaut on the lunar surface. 
    • To advance the return to the lunar surface, the United States and Japan are working to sign an Implementing Arrangement for Gateway cooperation in 2022.
    • Japan provided the United States with an asteroid sample collected by Hayabusa2 in November 2021 and the United States intends to provide Japan with a sample from the asteroid Bennu in 2023, as part of ongoing collaboration on a variety of space science missions.
    • The United States and Japan are cooperating to use Earth observation data to improve our capability to predict how our climate is changing.
  • Cooperation for Creating International Standards: 
    • The United States and Japan intend to further enhance cooperation in the international standardization organizations through cooperation frameworks such as the new International Standards Cooperation Network.
    • The United States and Japan strengthened collaboration on international technical standards development, both bilaterally and through the Quad Critical and Emerging Technology Working Group. The United States and Japan have collaborated in the United Nations fora to develop international guidelines and technical requirements for safe and secured advanced autonomous driving technology. The United States and Japan have collaborated to develop international safety standards for electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicle technologies.
  • Enhanced Cooperation on Export Controls:
    • The United States and Japan discussed a joint effort to enhance U.S.-Japan cooperation on more effective and agile export controls on critical technologies, including microelectronics and cyber surveillance systems, to address the misuse of critical technologies by malicious actors and inappropriate transfers of emerging technologies through research activities
  • Supply Chain Resilience:
    • The United States and Japan are working together to advance resilient supply chains for critical commodities in order to minimize supply disruption and inflation concerns, a threat to middle-class prosperity.
    • The two countries intend to cooperate with like-minded partners in areas such as:
  • Semiconductor manufacturing capacity, diversification, next-generation semiconductor research and development, and responding to supply shortages.
  • Information sharing and collaboration on advanced battery supply chains; and
  • Cooperation to build stable and resilient supply chains for critical minerals, including midstream materials processing.
    • The United States and Japan reaffirmed the importance of respecting human rights in supply chains and reinvigorated our cooperation to enhance predictability and foster an enabling environment for businesses to actively engage in efforts to respect human rights, including through the Economic Policy Consultative Committee.
    • The United States and Japan are committed to diversifying and strengthening the resilience of supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region, including through promoting trade facilitation and streamlined customs procedures.

COVID-19 Response, Global Health, and Health Security

  • COVID-19 Response:
    • Japan has committed to playing a leadership role under the U.S.-launched COVID-19 Global Action Plan under line of effort 1, “Get Shots in Arms” and to contributing to line of effort 6, “Strengthen Global Health Architecture.” The United States has provided more than $19 billion globally in COVID-19 funding for life-saving health and humanitarian assistance, with $580 million announced in December 2021 to support the work of multilateral partners to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.  Japan has been providing approximately $5 billion in comprehensive support globally since the COVID-19 outbreak, with the recent pledge of up to $500 million that was made as the largest contribution at the COVAX AMC Summit in April 2022.
    • Bilaterally and in partnership with COVAX, the United States has shared more than 540 million doses of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine with more than 115 countries and economies. 
    • Japan has delivered approximately 44 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine donations to 32 countries and regions bilaterally or through the COVAX Facility and more than $160 million of “Last One Mile Support” to 77 countries and regions.
    • In April 2021, the United States co-hosted with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the launch of the Investment Opportunity for the COVAX AMC to ensure the world’s poorest countries will get access to COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of their ability to pay.  Building upon the initial progress by the United States, Japan hosted the COVAX AMC Summit in June 2021, which resulted in securing $9.6 billion in funding commitments excessing the AMC’s commitment goal.
  • Global Health Architecture including Global Health Security:
    • At the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit, the United States pledged $150 million over three years, subject to Congressional appropriations, while Japan recently pledged $300 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations through 2026.
    • The United States and Japan acknowledge the importance to further strengthen the global health architecture with a view to achieving universal health coverage (UHC), and to enhance prevention, preparedness and response, including through the pandemic preparedness and global health security fund at the World Bank, supporting the work of the G20 Joint Finance-Health Task Force, and ongoing negotiation on a WHO international instrument. 
    • The United States and Japan committed to further strengthen the IHR (2005), including through implementation, compliance, and targeted amendments.
    • The United States and Japan reaffirmed commitments to support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis.
  • Scientific Cooperation:
    • The United States and Japan co-funded joint research projects on the “COVID-19 Research in Non-Medical Sciences,” on “Digital Science for post-COVID-19 Society,” and through the U.S.-Japan Cooperative Medical Science Program, including projects on “Countermeasures for COVID-19 in Medical Research.”
    • The United States and Japan supported an industry-led Healthcare Innovation Roundtable to enhance industry support for a pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem.
    • Under the Quad Vaccine Partnership, the United States and Japan have tirelessly promoted Quad science and technology cooperation, including on clinical trials, genomic surveillance, and pandemic preparedness joint exercise and the Quad Vaccine Confidence event, contributing to building back better health security.
  • Cancer: 
    • The U.S. National Cancer Institute and the Japanese National Cancer Center extended a Memorandum of Cooperation on research collaboration, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in cancer research in May 2022.
    • Japan launched a moonshot research and development program on cancer to foster bilateral U.S.-Japan cancer research through Japan’s Cancer Moonshot program. The United States intends to foster research collaboration through the U.S. research programs including the United States Cancer Moonshot. 
  • Universal Health Coverage:
    • The United States and Japan committed, as members of the Group of Friends of UHC to take global leadership on promoting UHC towards the UN High-Level Meeting on UHC to be held in 2023 as well as the target year of achieving the SDGs (2030).

Climate Change, Clean Energy, and Green Growth and Recovery

  • Global Subnational Zero Carbon Promotion Initiative: 
    • During COP 26, Japan and the United States launched the Global Subnational Zero Carbon Promotion Initiative and subsequently co-hosted the Zero Carbon City International Forum to share subnational commitments, policies, and actions to mitigate climate change and adapt its impacts. 
  • Sustainable and Climate-Smart Agriculture:
    • The United States and Japan have been working together to identify opportunities on sustainable and climate-smart agriculture and intend to conduct research collaborations to mitigate methane emissions generated from rice paddies and livestock from 2022.
  • Clean Energy Cooperation:
    • The Japan-U.S.-Mekong Power Partnership (JUMPP) is providing technical assistance and capacity building to support energy security through regional power trade and renewable integration in the Mekong region. 
    • Japan and the United States launched the Japan-U.S. Clean Energy Partnership (JUCEP) in April 2021 to support countries in the Indo-Pacific and around the world to accelerate the transition to clean, affordable, and secure energy sources.  In cooperation with the Government of Indonesia, Japan and the United States utilized financial, technical and business matchmaking tools to increase interest in renewables investment, and to conduct clean energy capacity building activities, including for Small Modular Reactor nuclear energy.
    • Japan and United States established the Clean Energy and Energy Security Initiative (CEESI) to strengthen energy security through stable and sufficient energy supply, including LNG, and accelerate innovation and marketization of clean energy technologies including renewable energy, hydrogen and fuel ammonia, CCUS/Carbon Recycling and nuclear power. CEESI will work toward achieving both global energy security and 2050 net zero goals. 
    • The United States and Japan held the Carbon Neutral Port (CNP) Workshop, and concurred to further strengthen the collaboration and identified the ports of Los Angeles and Yokohama and Kobe as pilot cases.
    • The United States and Japan pursue opportunities to cooperate on fully utilizing existing nuclear power, to include collaboration on extending reactor life and ensuring security of fuel supply.
    • The United States and Japan committed to cooperate on advanced nuclear power technologies such as small modular reactors and fast reactors, including supporting their global deployment with capacity building and financial tools, and cooperating to develop resilient supply chains.
    • Japan will join the U.S.-led First Movers Coalition as a strategic government partner to accelerate the maturation and deployment of breakthrough clean technologies in hard-to-abate sectors.
    • The United States and Japan will strengthen cooperation on methane reductions across the fossil energy, agricultural, and waste sectors to support implementation of the Global Methane Pledge.  This includes supporting methane emissions reductions in third countries.
  • Transparency for Investors on Climate Risks:
    • The United States and Japan will continue to collaborate to address climate-related financial risks and facilitate investors’ ability to evaluate climate-aligned opportunities. This includes by working in international forums to promote best practices on disclosure of climate-related information.

Expanding and Renewing our Partnership

The United States and Japan committed to strengthen further our vibrant people-to-people ties by expanding collaboration and participation in research projects and international exchange programs. Our exchange programs will continue to distribute the benefits of the CoRe Partnership inclusively and equitably, to empower women in our societies.  Exchange programs have engaged civil society, and the public and private sectors to encourage women’s role in the business sector, government, and STEM fields.

White House.gov. 05/23/2022.

The White House posted; Japan-U.S. Joint Leaders’ Statement: Strengthening the Free and Open International Order 

The White House posted the following fact-sheet; In Asia, President Biden and a Dozen Indo-Pacific Partners Launch the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity

IPEF will strengthen our ties in this critical region to define the coming decades for technological innovation and the global economy
 
Framework will create a stronger, fairer, more resilient economy for families, workers, and businesses in the United States and in the Indo-Pacific region

Today in Tokyo, Japan, President Biden launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) with a dozen initial partners: Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Together, we represent 40% of world GDP.  

The United States is an Indo-Pacific economic power, and expanding U.S. economic leadership in the region is good for American workers and businesses — as well as for the people of the region. IPEF will enable the United States and our allies to decide on rules of the road that ensure American workers, small businesses, and ranchers can compete in the Indo-Pacific. As the President has said, tackling inflation is a top economic priority, and this framework will help lower costs by making our supply chains more resilient in the long term, protecting us against costly disruptions that lead to higher prices for consumers.

U.S. foreign direct investment in the region totaled more than $969 billion in 2020 and has nearly doubled in the last decade, and we are the leading exporter of services to the region, helping fuel regional growth. Trade with the Indo-Pacific supports more than three million American jobs and is the source of nearly $900 billion in foreign direct investment in the United States. With 60 percent of the world’s population, the Indo‑Pacific is projected to be the largest contributor to global growth over the next 30 years.  

The United States and our partners in the region believe that much of our success in the coming decades will depend on how well governments harness innovation — especially the transformations afoot in the clean energy, digital, and technology sectors — while fortifying our economies against a range of threats, from fragile supply chains to corruption to tax havens. The past models of economic engagement did not address these challenges, leaving our workers, businesses, and consumers vulnerable. The framework will focus on four key pillars to establish high-standard commitments that will deepen our economic engagement in the region:

White House.gov. 05/23/2022.
  • Connected Economy: On trade, we will engage comprehensively with our partners on a wide range of issues. We will pursue high-standard rules of the road in the digital economy, including standards on cross-border data flows and data localization. We will work with our partners to seize opportunities and address concerns in the digital economy, in order to ensure small and medium sized enterprises can benefit from the region’s rapidly growing e-commerce sector, while addressing issues is such as online privacy and discriminatory and unethical use of Artificial Intelligence. We will also seek strong labor and environment standards and corporate accountability provisions that promote a race to the top for workers through trade. 
  • Resilient Economy: We will seek first-of-their-kind supply chain commitments that better anticipate and prevent disruptions in supply chains to create a more resilient economy and guard against price spikes that increase costs for American families. We intend to do this by establishing an early warning system, mapping critical mineral supply chains, improving traceability in key sectors, and coordinating on diversification efforts.
  • Clean Economy: We will seek first-of-their-kind commitments on clean energy, decarbonization, and infrastructure that promote good-paying jobs. We will pursue concrete, high-ambition targets that will accelerate efforts to tackle the climate crisis, including in the areas of renewable energy, carbon removal, energy efficiency standards, and new measures to combat methane emissions. 
  • Fair Economy: We will seek commitments to enact and enforce effective tax, anti-money laundering, and anti-bribery regimes that are in line with our existing multilateral obligations to promote a fair economy. These will include provisions on the exchange of tax information, criminalization of bribery in accordance with UN standards, and effective implementation of beneficial ownership recommendations to strengthen our efforts to crack down on corruption.

The YouTube is the live streamed copy of the announced framework. President Biden’s remarks can be found here.

The two leaders held a joint-press conference. The YouTube is the live streamed feed from early this morning. At this time the White House has not uploaded their remarks.

The Operation Fly Formula Tweets…

Friday’s Tweets…

May 19th, 2022, the White House posted the following release; Biden Administration Approves First Operation Fly Formula Mission

Today, the Department of Defense (DOD) is sourcing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s request for Operation Fly Formula to transport Nestlé S.A. formula from Zurich, Switzerland to Plainfield, Indiana. DOD is actively working the request to identify commercial aircraft.

The Operation Fly Formula shipments will transport the equivalent of up to 1.5 million 8-ounce bottles of three formulas—Alfamino® Infant, Alfamino® Junior, and Gerber Good Start® Extensive HA—all of which are hypoallergenic formulas for children with cow’s milk protein allergy. These formulas have been prioritized because they serve a critical medical purpose and are in short supply in the United States because of the Abbott Sturgis plant closure. These shipments will include approximately 246 pallets.

President Biden launched Operation Fly Formula to speed up the import of infant formula and start getting more formula to stores as soon as possible. Under Operation Fly Formula, USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are authorized to use DOD-contracted commercial aircraft to pick up overseas infant formula that meets U.S. health and safety standards, so it can get to store shelves faster. In addition, President Biden has directed his Administration to take a number of other important actions to ensure there is enough safe infant formula for families, including invoking the Defense Production Act, entering into a consent agreement between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reopen Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis facility, and issuing FDA guidance to allow major formula manufacturers to safely import formula that is not currently being produced for the U.S. market.

White House.gov. 05/19/2022.

Saturday’s Tweets…

H.R. 7691 Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022 summary:

This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take certain actions to address emergencies, disasters, and supply chain disruptions (particularly the shortage of infant formula in the United States) affecting participants of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

The bill directs USDA to require each infant formula cost containment contract to include remedies in the event of an infant formula recall, including how an infant formula manufacturer would protect against disruption to WIC participants in the state.

USDA must, within 30 days, ensure there is a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Health and Human Services that includes procedures for coordination and information sharing regarding any supply chain disruption, including a supplemental food recall.

The bill also authorizes USDA to waive or modify any WIC qualified administrative requirement during emergencies, disasters, and supply chain disruptions. Specifically, USDA may waive or modify such a requirement for one or more state agencies if (1) the requirement cannot be met by state agencies during the emergency, disaster, or disruption; and (2) the modification or waiver is necessary to provide assistance to WIC participants and does not substantially weaken the nutritional quality of supplemental foods. For example, USDA may waive the maximum monthly allowance for infant formula.

The bill establishes notification requirements for USDA and state agencies related to supply chain disruptions.

Congress.gov.

It “Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 414 – 9 (Roll no. 218)” on May 18th, 2022.

It “Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent” on May 19th, 2022.

Sunday’s Tweets…

The White House posted the following statement:

Today, the Department of Defense (DOD) has sourced a second flight to fulfill the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s request for Operation Fly Formula to transport Nestlé S.A. formula from Ramstein Air Base in Germany to Washington Dulles International Airport. From there, the formula will be transported to a Nestlé facility in Pennsylvania. DOD is contracting with FedEx Express to transport the shipment via its integrated air and ground network. The flight and trucking will take place in the coming days. More details on timing will be announced when available.

The Operation Fly Formula shipments will transport 114 pallets of Gerber Good Start® Extensive HA infant formula. This is the remainder of the equivalent of up to 1.5 million 8-ounce bottles of three formulas—Alfamino® Infant, Alfamino® Junior, and Gerber Good Start® Extensive HA—all of which are hypoallergenic formulas for children with cow’s milk protein allergy. The first tranche of this shipment, announced on May 19, arrived in the United States via DOD aircraft on Sunday, May 22. These formulas have been prioritized because they serve a critical medical purpose and are in short supply in the United States because of the Abbott Sturgis plant closure.

President Biden launched Operation Fly Formula to speed up the import of infant formula and start getting more formula to stores as soon as possible. Under Operation Fly Formula, USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are authorized to use DOD-contracted commercial aircraft to pick up overseas infant formula that meets U.S. health and safety standards, so it can get to store shelves faster. In addition, President Biden has directed his Administration to take a number of other important actions to ensure there is enough safe infant formula for families, including invoking the Defense Production Act, entering into a consent agreement between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reopen Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis facility, and issuing FDA guidance to allow major formula manufacturers to safely import formula that is not currently being produced for the U.S. market.

White House.gov. 05/22/2022.

The White House posted the following release:

Secretary Becerra Authorized Priority Orders of Input for Infant Formula

The President is announcing the first two Defense Production Act (DPA) authorizations for infant formula. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra authorized the first two infant formula priority orders today. The two infant formula manufacturers can now begin to add legally binding language to their orders with suppliers that will give them priority over other customers. Last week, the President invoked the DPA to ensure that manufacturers have the necessary ingredients to make safe, health infant formula here at home.

Earlier today, the President announced the second Operation Fly Formula flight had been sourced for later this week. The flight will transport 114 pallets of Gerber Good Start® Extensive HA infant formula. This is the remainder of the equivalent of up to 1.5 million 8-ounce bottles of three formulas—Alfamino® Infant, Alfamino® Junior, and Gerber Good Start® Extensive HA—all of which are hypoallergenic formulas for children with cow’s milk protein allergy. The first tranche of this shipment arrived in the United States on DOD aircraft earlier today. These formulas have been prioritized because they serve a critical medical purpose and are in short supply in the United States because of the Abbott Sturgis plant closure.

Today’s infant formula priority orders are:

White House.gov. 05/22/2022.
  • Abbott Nutrition can now receive priority orders of raw materials like sugar and corn syrup for infant formula. Constraints in global  supply chain for these materials mean that Abbott’s allotment/allocation of these materials have been limited to 75 percent of its normal amount. By allowing Abbott to receive its full allotment of needed raw materials, it will be able to quickly increase production by one third over where it stands today.
  • Reckitt (which owns Mead-Johnson) can now receive priority orders of consumables like single-use products like filters necessary to generate certain oils needed to produce infant formula. This will also allow Reckitt facilities to operate at maximum capacity.

The Biden-Harris Administration will continue to identify opportunities to invoke the Defense Production Act and further increase infant formula production to maximum capacity. The Biden-Harris Administration has been working around the clock to increase production of infant formula and keep store shelves stocked during the Abbott Nutrition voluntary recall.

White House.gov. 05/22/2022.

The Other Tweets…

Friday…

The tweet shared by the new White House Press Secretary:

From the article…

The world’s second-largest economy will grow just 2% this year, Bloomberg Economics wrote in a report Thursday. By comparison, US gross domestic product will increase 2.8% this year, Bloomberg Economics predicts.

Bloomberg. 05/20/2022.

Saturday…

The clip is 6 seconds long. No music, no voiceover; it’s a gif.

The White House posted the following Proclamation:

On Armed Forces Day, we share our unending appreciation for the proud patriots who answer the call to serve, taking the sacred oath to defend our Constitution.  The brave members of our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard and Reserve forces represent the best of our Nation.  Today and every day, we honor their immeasurable service on behalf of our grateful Nation. 

On this special day of tribute, we recognize the sacrifices that our service members and their families make on our behalf, and we recommit to our solemn duty to support them as they protect us.  Our Nation has a sacred obligation to properly equip and prepare our troops when we send them in to harm’s way and to support them — both while they are serving abroad and when they return home — as well as their families, caregivers, and survivors.  We must meet this obligation. 


My Administration’s unity agenda focuses on key issues that bring Americans together:  supporting our veterans, beating the opioid epidemic, addressing our national mental health crisis, and ending cancer as we know it.  Each of these issues impact our military community, and each is essential to meeting our obligation to our troops, their families, caregivers, and survivors.  Mental health issues pose a real challenge to our service members and their families, and my Administration will continue to strengthen the tools, resources, and support for our military community so our brave service members, who have answered the call to serve, can thrive.  This includes taking bold action to reduce suicide among service members, veterans, and their families.  


The success of our Armed Forces also rests on every member of our military community feeling that their safety and ability to prosper is prioritized as they defend our Nation.  That is why my Administration is so focused on addressing the potential adverse consequences related to toxic exposures or exposures to other environmental hazards during deployment or in garrison.  


Safety for our troops also means addressing the scourge of sexual harassment and sexual assault in our military.  We have already taken important steps.  In December, I was proud to sign into law historic military justice reforms as part of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act.  The Department of Defense is working to implement these critical changes, alongside recommendations from the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military for prevention, climate and culture, and victim care and support.  Much work still lies ahead to deliver the progress that our troops deserve, and this will remain a top priority for my Administration.  


Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths as a Nation, and we will continue to strive for our Armed Forces to reflect society at every level within its ranks.  Ensuring equal opportunity and greater inclusivity will bolster the strength of our military and make sure every American knows they can succeed and thrive as a member of the United States Armed Forces.  We are renewing our efforts to address the recruitment, retention, and well-being of women in the military as well as providing a path to service for other under-represented groups. 


As we look around the world today, we are reminded again that freedom comes at great cost.  Throughout our history, brave Americans have always stepped forward to defend our liberties — willing to pay the price to keep our country safe.  Our Nation’s Armed Forces are the best in the world.  And we know that it is not only the person who wears our Nation’s uniform that serves. Their loved ones serve as well.  Today, we also honor the families, caregivers, and survivors of our Armed Forces — all those who sacrifice on our behalf and who give their all to support the service members they stand behind.

On Armed Forces Day, we salute our brave service members, whose dedication and sacrifice ensure that our Nation’s Armed Forces are unmatched in strength, unity, and resilience.  They are the greatest fighting force the world has ever known.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, continuing the precedent of my predecessors in office, do hereby proclaim the third Saturday of each May as Armed Forces Day.

I direct the Secretary of Defense, on behalf of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and the Secretary of Homeland Security on behalf of the Coast Guard, to plan for appropriate observances each year, with the Secretary of Defense responsible for soliciting the participation and cooperation of civil authorities and private citizens.  I invite the Governors of the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to provide for the observance of Armed Forces Day within their respective jurisdictions each year in an appropriate manner designed to increase public understanding and appreciation of the Armed Forces of the United States.  I also invite veterans, civic leaders, and other organizations to join in the observance of Armed Forces Day each year.

White House.gov. 05/20/2022.

The photo was taken on March 24th, 2021, when the President and First Lady held an event to mark Equal Pay Day. His full remarks can be found here.

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Member of the Free Press who is politically homeless and a political junkie.