It’s Monday…
President Biden’s public schedule for 08/21/2023:
| 4:15 AM Arrives in Reno, Nevada | The President and The First Lady arrive in Reno, Nevada Principal Deputy Press Secretary Olivia Dalton and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will gaggle aboard Air Force One en route to Maui, Hawaii |
| 9:00 AM | Out-of-Town Pool Call Time Out-of-Town Pool |
| 10:00 AM Presidential Daily Brief | The President receives the Presidential Daily Briefing Closed Press |
| 11:40 AM Leaves Reno, Nevada | The President and The First Lady depart Reno, Nevada en route to Maui, Hawaii Out-of-Town Pool |
| 5:10 PM Arrives in Maui, Hawaii | The President and The First Lady arrive in Maui, Hawaii Open Press |
| 11:25 PM Leaves Maui, Hawaii | The President and The First Lady depart Maui, Hawaii en route to Reno, Nevada |
YouTube says the audio only press gaggle is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. D.C., time:
Camp David Tweets
From Friday…
The YouTube is 54 minutes and 22 seconds long. The Q&A starts at the 24 minute and 54 second mark. Their full remarks can be found here.
And, critically — critically, we’ve all committed to swiftly consult with each other in response to threats to any one of our countries from whatever source it occurs. That means we’ll have a hotline to share information and coordinate our responses whenever there is a crisis in the region or affecting any one of our countries.
White House.gov. 08/18/2023.
The Japan-Korea-U.S. Camp David Summit isn’t about any one challenge or one country – it’s about taking affirmative steps to ensure a free and prosperous Indo-Pacific for years to come.
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 18, 2023
Let me close with this. Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, this is the first summit I’ve hosted at Camp David as President. I can think of no more fitting location to begin the next era — our next era of cooperation — a place that has long symbolized the power of new beginnings and new possibilities.
In the months and years ahead, we’re going to continue to seize those possibilities together — unwavering in our unity and unmatched in our resolve. This is not about a day, a week, or month. This is about decades and decades of relationships that we’re building.
White House.gov. 08/18/2023.
And you’ve heard me say it before: The Republic of Korea and Japan are capable and indispensable allies.
[snip]
America’s commitment to both countries is ironclad, and my personal commitment to bringing these three nations together was real from the very beginning.
Since last summer, we’ve met on the margins of the NATO Summit in Spain, the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia, and the G7 Summit in Japan. And today, we’ve made history with the first-ever standalone summit between the leaders of our three countries, as well as our commitment to meet together on the leader level annually and to have all of our relative Cabinet-member people meet on a regular basis for — from this point on; not just this year, not next year — forever. That’s the i- — that’s the intention.
White House.gov. 08/18/2023.
From Monday…
The video clip is 1 minute and 30 seconds long. I will not be providing a transcript. The gist of the video is welcoming President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea and Prime Minister Kishida of Japan.
From the White House…
Press Gaggle by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan; the YouTube is 16 minutes and 41 seconds long (08/18/2023):
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan:
Thank you, Karine. Thanks, everybody. Hope you didn’t have too much trouble getting in this morning.
It’s really great to be here at Camp David. And today, President Biden will host Prime Minister Kishida of Japan and President Yoon of South — of the Republic of Korea for a historic trilateral summit.
The summit marks the first visit here to Camp David by a foreign leader — and, in this case, it will be two foreign leaders — in the Biden administration.
It’s actually the first foreign leader visit to Camp David since 2015. And in keeping with the time-honored tradition of hosting significant, consequential diplomatic meetings at Camp David, this summit signifies a new era of trilateral cooperation for the U.S., Japan, and the ROK.
In many ways, the summit has been in the making since the day that President Biden took office. He has really focused on each of these relationships, each of these alliances — the bilateral relationship we have with Japan and with Korea, and then, of course, the trilateral cooperation among the three of us.
In fact, his first two foreign leader visits to the White House back in 2021 were Japan and the ROK. And his first two stops on his first foreign trip to Asia were Japan and the ROK.
So, President Biden has really worked to strengthen and modernize our bilateral alliances and to take them to new heights. And I think it would be fair to say that these alliances are stronger than they have been at any point in modern memory.
And a lot of that, frankly, is due to the President’s focus and investment in the personal aspect of diplomacy, in cultivating leader-to-leader relationships with both the President of Korea and the Prime Minister of Japan.
And the trust and respect that has been engendered by his investment in these relationships has led to significant bilateral accomplishments: the Washington Declaration with the Republic of Korea, the work the U.S. and Japan have done together to support Ukraine and to enhance Japan’s defense capabilities.
One area that President Biden has particularly emphasized from his first conversations as president with both of these leaders was how to build stronger Japan-ROK ties and how that is in the fundamental national security interests of the United States.
President Biden encouraged both leaders to take bold steps to improve their bilateral relationship, which could help set the foundation for the significant breakthrough in trilateral cooperation that will be on display today.
And as the ROK and Japan broke new diplomatic ground, President Biden was there to reinforce and reassure. And he directed his team to do the same. So Secretary Blinken, Secretary Austin, myself — we’ve developed deep relationships on a trilateral basis with our counterparts from Japan and the ROK.
And President Biden himself has held three summits already, although all of them on the margins of other meetings. This, in fact, is the first time that there will be a standalone trilateral summit of the three leaders.
So, what will happen today? Today, we are going to lay a strong foundation for this trilateral partnership to make sure that it’s deep, it is strong, and that it’s built to last. We’re opening a new era, and we’re making sure that era has staying power.
So, that means regularizing meetings between our leaders and our senior officials on an annual basis to discuss the broad agenda of security technology, regional strategy, economic partnership, and more.
We’re announcing significant steps to enhance trilateral security cooperation in the region in the face of North Korean provocations, including a multiyear exercise plan, deeper coordination and integration on ballistic missile defense, and improving information-sharing and crisis communication and the policy coordination that goes along with responding to contingencies in the Indo-Pacific.
We’re unveiling new economic and energy security initiatives, including an early warning mechanism for supply chain disruptions.
Our three countries will announce new regional initiatives to build partner capacity throughout the Indo-Pacific, including in the maritime security domain, which will ensure that our cooperation benefits not just the people of our three countries but the people of the entire region.
Yesterday, Kurt and Mira walked through with you the specific deliverables, so I won’t go into more detail now. Suffice it to say, this is a big deal. It is a historic event, and it sets the conditions for a more peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific and a stronger and more secure United States of America.
So, this is a worthy legacy for the President, for President Yoon, for Prime Minister Kishida, and for all of the teams that have done so much work to get us to this point and to see this point not just as the culmination, but the launch of this new era in trilateral cooperation that we believe will come to the strong benefit of each of our three countries.
White House.gov. 08/18/2023.
Remarks by President Biden, President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea, and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan Before Trilateral Meeting; there is no White House YouTube (08/18/2023):
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Well, welcome, everyone. Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. President, it’s an honor to welcome you both here today to inaugurate the Camp David trilateral between our three nations — among our three nations.
White House.gov. 08/18/2023.
It’s not only the first summit I’ve hosted at Camp David, it’s the first-ever standalone summit between the leaders of Japan and Republic of Korea and the United States.
And I can think of no better way — no better way to mark our new chapter of our trilateral cooperation than meeting here at Camp David.
And so, strengthening the ties between our democracies has long been a priority for me, dating back to when I was vice president of the United States. That’s because our countries are stronger and the world is safer — let me say that again –our countries are stronger and the world will be safer as we stand together. And I know this is a belief we all three share.
And I want to thank you both for your political courage that brought you here. And I’m looking forward to us having a great meeting, but continuing these meetings.
You’ve stepped up to do the hard work — the, I would argue, historic work — to forge a foundation from which we can face the future together — the three of us together.
And I’m deeply grateful for your leadership, and I look forward to working with both of you as we begin this new era of cooperation and renew our resolve to serve as a force of good across the Indo-Pacific and, quite frankly, around the world as well.
President Yoon, let me turn this over to you.
PRESIDENT YOON: (As interpreted.) I would like to extend my gratitude to President Biden for his warm hospitality. Last July, we met in Vilnius for the NATO Summit, and I’m pleased to be reunited in about a month.
At this symbolic venue of Camp David in the history of modern diplomacy, our trilateral partnership is opening a new chapter, which carries great significance, in my view.
President Roosevelt once stated: Freedom is not a given but something you fight to win. To make sure that each of our freedoms is neither threatened or damaged, our three nations must tighten our solidarity. Such is also our promise and mandate towards our future generations.
The stronger coordination between Korea, the U.S., and Japan requires more robust institutional foundations. Moreover, challenges that threaten regional security must be addressed by us building a stronger commitment to working together.
Today will be remembered as a historic day where we established a firm institutional basis and commitments to the trilateral partnership.
Today, I hope we will explore together ways to elevate cooperation between Korea, the U.S., and Japan to a new plane through in-depth discussions.
PRIME MINISTER KISHIDA: (As interpreted.) First of all, I would like to express my sympathy once again for the devastating damages caused by the wildfires in Maui, Hawaii. In order to provide relief to the affected people, Japan has decided to offer a total of around $2 million of support. I offer my heartfelt prayer for the earliest possible recovery of the affected areas.
May I also once again convey my heartfelt condolences for the passing away of President Yoon’s father.
And now I would like to thank Joe for your kind invitation to the two of us to Camp David, a place with history.
President Yoon, I have been meeting you almost on a monthly basis since March of this year. But the fact that we — the three leaders have got together in this way, I believe, means that we are indeed making a new history as of today.
The international community is at a turning point in history. In order to allow the potential of our trilateral strategic collaboration to bloom and to blossom, I wish to take this moment to raise the security — the coordination between Japan, ROK, and the U.S. to new heights while strengthening the coordination between the Japan-U.S. and the U.S.-ROK alliances as we deepen our cooperation in the response to North Korea.
I wish to expand and deepen our collaboration in extensive areas, including economic security, such as critical and emergent technology, cooperation, and supply chains resilience.
Today, I look forward to engaging in frank discussions amongst ourselves in order to declare a new area of Japan, U.S., ROK partnership.
I once again express my gratitude for Joe’s initiative. Thank you.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Thank you. We politely ask the press to — to leave. Thank you for coming in.
The Spirit of Camp David: Joint Statement of Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States (08/18/2023):
We, the leaders of Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), and the United States, convened at Camp David to inaugurate a new era of trilateral partnership. We do so at a time of unparalleled opportunity for our countries and our citizens, and at a hinge point of history, when geopolitical competition, the climate crisis, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and nuclear provocations test us. This is a moment that requires unity and coordinated action from true partners, and it is a moment we intend to meet, together. Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States are determined to align our collective efforts because we believe our trilateral partnership advances the security and prosperity of all our people, the region, and the world. In this spirit, President Biden commended President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida for their courageous leadership in transforming relations between Japan and the ROK. With the renewed bonds of friendship—and girded by the ironclad U.S.-Japan and U.S.-ROK alliances—each of our bilateral relationships is now stronger than ever. So too is our trilateral relationship.
On this historic occasion, we commit to expand our cooperation trilaterally and raise our shared ambition to a new horizon, across domains and across the Indo-Pacific and beyond. We will strengthen our economies, provide resilience and prosperity, support the free and open international order based on the rule of law, and bolster regional and global peace and security, especially as current and incoming members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). We will strengthen our coordination on promoting democracy and protecting human rights. And we will enhance strategic coordination between the U.S.-Japan and U.S.-ROK alliances and bring our trilateral security cooperation to new heights. As we embark together in this new era, our shared values will be our guide and a free and open Indo-Pacific, in which our half-billion people are safe and prosperous, will be our collective purpose.
Today, we declare openly that we are united in a common purpose to strengthen our shared region. Our mandate is to ensure Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States are aligned in our objectives and in our actions, generating the common capacity required to ensure that the Indo-Pacific is thriving, connected, resilient, stable, and secure. Ours is a partnership built not just for our people but for the entire Indo-Pacific.
We announce our governments’ commitment to consult with each other in an expeditious manner to coordinate our responses to regional challenges, provocations, and threats that affect our collective interests and security. Through these consultations we intend to share information, align our messaging, and coordinate response actions. To this end we will improve our trilateral communication mechanism to facilitate regular and timely communication between our countries, including our national leadership. We will hold trilateral meetings between our leaders, foreign ministers, defense ministers, and national security advisors at least annually, complementing existing trilateral meetings between our respective foreign and defense ministries. We will also hold the first trilateral meeting between our finance ministers as well as launch a new commerce and industry ministers track that will meet annually. We will also launch an annual Trilateral Indo-Pacific Dialogue to coordinate implementation of our Indo-Pacific approaches and to continually identify new areas for common action. Recognizing the increased threat posed by foreign information manipulation and misuse of surveillance technology, we will also discuss ways to coordinate our efforts to counter disinformation. We welcome the trilateral development policy dialogue planned in October to advance concrete discussions for deepening development policy coordination. We are resolute in our determination to uphold regional security, strengthen Indo-Pacific engagement, and promote common prosperity.
We wholeheartedly reaffirm ASEAN centrality and unity and our support for the ASEAN-led regional architecture. We are committed to working closely with ASEAN partners to support robust implementation and mainstreaming of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. We are collectively working to support sustainable energy and promoting water security and climate resilience in the Mekong River Basin. We reaffirm, too, our support of Pacific Island countries and intend to work in genuine partnership with the Pacific in a transparent and effective manner, consistent with the Pacific Way, that strengthens individual countries and the Pacific region. We plan to coordinate regional capacity-building efforts to ASEAN and Pacific Island countries to ensure that they are mutually reinforcing and maximally beneficial to our valued partners, including through capacity building efforts in cybersecurity and financial integrity and our new Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation Framework.
We share concerns about actions inconsistent with the rules-based international order, which undermine regional peace and prosperity. Recalling the publicly announced position of each of our countries regarding the dangerous and aggressive behavior supporting unlawful maritime claims that we have recently witnessed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the South China Sea, we strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the waters of the Indo-Pacific. In particular, we steadfastly oppose the militarization of reclaimed features; the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels; and coercive activities. In addition, we are concerned about illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. We reiterate our firm commitment to international law, including the freedom of navigation and overflight, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The July 2016 award in the South China Sea arbitration sets out the legal basis for the peaceful resolution of maritime conflicts between the parties to that proceeding. We reaffirm the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity in the international community. There is no change in our basic positions on Taiwan, and we call for a peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.
Furthermore, we reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions and urge the DPRK to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. We call on all UN Member States to fully implement all relevant UNSC resolutions. We strongly condemn the DPRK’s unprecedented number of ballistic missile launches, including multiple intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches and conventional military actions that pose a grave threat to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and beyond. We express concern regarding the DPRK’s illicit cyber activities that fund its unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs. We announce the establishment of a new trilateral working group to drive our cooperation, including with the international community, to combat DPRK cyber threats and block its cyber-enabled sanctions evasion. Japan, the ROK, and the United States remain committed to reestablishing dialogue with the DPRK with no preconditions. We also commit to strengthening cooperation to promote respect for human rights in the DPRK and reaffirm a shared commitment to the immediate resolution of the issues of abductees, detainees, and unrepatriated prisoners of war. We express support for the goal of the ROK’s Audacious Initiative and support a unified Korean Peninsula that is free and at peace.
The United States unequivocally reaffirms that its extended deterrence commitments to both Japan and the ROK are ironclad and backed by the full range of U.S. capabilities. Our three countries announce today that we intend to hold annual, named, multi-domain trilateral exercises on a regular basis to enhance our coordinated capabilities and cooperation. In mid-August, our three countries conducted a maritime ballistic missile defense warning test for the real-time sharing of missile warning data to demonstrate our ability to deter and respond to the DPRK’s advancing nuclear and missile threats more effectively. By the end of 2023, we intend to operationalize our sharing of missile warning data on the DPRK in real-time in fulfillment of commitments reflected in the November 2022 Phnom Penh Statement, and our countries have taken initial steps to test our technical capabilities for real-time sharing of missile warning data. We are committed to pursuing enhanced ballistic missile defense cooperation to counter DPRK nuclear and missile threats. We reaffirm that achieving a world without nuclear weapons is a common goal for the international community, and we continue to make every effort to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again.
Even as we deepen our security partnership, we will also maintain focus on building robust cooperation in the economic security and technology spheres, leveraging the unique capabilities that each of our countries brings to bear. In implementing our commitments in the Phnom Penh Statement, our national security teams have met twice under the auspices of the Trilateral Economic Security Dialogue to advance our shared objectives. We are now cooperating trilaterally on supply chain resilience, particularly on semiconductors and batteries, as well as on technology security and standards, clean energy and energy security, biotechnology, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and scientific research.
Going forward, our countries are committed to working closely together to launch early warning system pilots to expand information sharing and enhance policy coordination on possible disruptions to global supply chains as well as to better prepare us to confront and overcome economic coercion. We will continue to develop the Partnership for Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement (RISE) to help developing countries play larger roles in the supply chains of clean energy products. We will also enhance cooperation on technology protection measures to prevent the cutting-edge technologies we develop from being illegally exported or stolen abroad. To that end, we will conduct inaugural exchanges between the U.S. Disruptive Technology Strike Force and Japanese and ROK counterparts to deepen information-sharing and coordination across our enforcement agencies. We will also continue to strengthen trilateral cooperation on export controls to prevent our technologies from being diverted for military or dual-use capabilities that could potentially threaten international peace and security.
In tandem with technology protection measures, we will bolster combined and collaborative scientific and technological innovation, including by pursuing new trilateral National Labs cooperation and expanding trilateral collaborative research and development and personnel exchanges, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) sectors. In addition, we seek to expand trilateral cooperation on open radio access network (RAN) and further enhance trilateral dialogue on space security cooperation, particularly regarding threats in the space domain, national space strategies, and the responsible use of space. We acknowledge the crucial role of AI as a transformative technology and affirm our respective efforts to help shape international governance on AI and ensure safe, secure, and trustworthy AI, in line with our shared democratic values and as the basis for international discussions on frontier AI systems.
We are fully committed to continuing to eliminate barriers to economic participation and build diverse, accessible, and inclusive economies in which all our people—including women and marginalized groups—can succeed. We will work to further strengthen our people-to-people ties, including among our young people and students. We will continue our cooperation toward the successful conclusion of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) negotiations, and President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida welcome the United States’ hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum this year. President Yoon and President Biden applaud Japan’s strong and principled leadership at the G7 Hiroshima Summit to respond to challenges that the international community is facing. Together, we are committed to accelerate the clean energy transition; mobilize financing for quality infrastructure and resilient supply chains, including through trilateral collaboration among our development finance institutions as well as through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII); and promote sustainable economic growth and financial stability, as well as orderly and well-functioning financial markets. We will continue our ambitious agenda to evolve the multilateral development banks to make them more responsive to shared global challenges. The Leaders committed to explore delivering new World Bank Group concessional resources and headroom to fight poverty by addressing global challenges in line with its forthcoming concessionality framework and enhancing resources for the poorest countries, including crisis response.
We are united in our support for Ukraine. We reaffirm our commitment to stand with Ukraine against Russia’s unprovoked and brutal war of aggression that has shaken the foundation of the international order. We commit to continue providing assistance to Ukraine, imposing coordinated, robust sanctions on Russia, and accelerating the reduction of dependency on Russian energy. We believe the lasting lesson from this catastrophic war of aggression must be the international community’s abiding will to uphold the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. We reaffirm our view that when these foundational principles are rejected anywhere, they represent a threat to our region. We are unified in our intent to ensure that no such egregious acts are ever perpetrated again.
We depart Camp David with a shared resolve and optimism for the future. The opportunity that lies before us was not guaranteed—it was embraced. It is the product of a determination, fiercely held by each of us, that if we are to deliver a peaceful and prosperous future for our people, and the people of the Indo-Pacific, we must more often stand together. Today, we declare that a new chapter in our trilateral relationship has begun. We are aligned in our vision; undaunted in the face of our era’s greatest challenges; and, most of all, united in our belief that Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States can meet those challenges together, now and in the future.
White House.gov. 08/18/2023.
Camp David Principles (08/18/2023):
We, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, President Yoon Suk Yeol, and President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., affirm a shared vision for our partnership as well as for the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Our partnership is based on a bedrock of shared values, mutual respect, and a unified commitment to advance the prosperity of our three countries, the region, and the globe. As we move forward, we intend our partnership to be guided by these principles:
As Indo-Pacific nations, Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), and the United States will continue to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific based on a respect for international law, shared norms, and common values. We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.
The purpose of our trilateral security cooperation is and will remain to promote and enhance peace and stability throughout the region.
Our commitment to the region includes our unwavering support for ASEAN centrality and unity and the ASEAN-led regional architecture. We are committed to partnering closely with ASEAN to advance implementation and mainstreaming of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
We are determined to work closely with Pacific Island countries and the Pacific Islands Forum as the region’s leading institution, consistent with the Pacific Way.
We stand united in our commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. We remain committed to dialogue with the DPRK with no preconditions. We seek to address human rights and humanitarian issues, including the immediate resolution of the issues of abductions, detainees, and unrepatriated prisoners of war. We support a unified Korean Peninsula that is free and at peace.
We reaffirm the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity in the international community. Recognizing that there is no change in our basic positions on Taiwan, we call for a peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.
As leading global economies, we seek continued opportunity and prosperity for our peoples, the region, and the globe through open and fair economic practices that promote financial stability as well as orderly and well-functioning financial markets.
Our technology cooperation will contribute to the vibrance and dynamism of the Indo-Pacific as we cooperate towards open, accessible, and secure technology approaches based on mutual confidence, trust, and respect for relevant international law and standards. We will seek to develop standard practices and norms between our countries and within international bodies to guide the development, use, and transfer of critical and emerging technologies.
Our countries are committed to cooperation to address climate change and will work together to provide leadership and solutions through relevant international institutions. We are committed to enhancing our development and humanitarian response cooperation to collectively overcome global issues and the root causes of insecurity.
We are unflinching in our commitment to uphold the principles of the UN Charter, particularly those relating to sovereignty, territorial integrity, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and the use of force. A threat to these principles anywhere undermines respect for them everywhere. As responsible state actors, we seek to promote the rule of law and to ensure regional and international security so all can flourish.
Our countries are dedicated to honoring our commitments to non-proliferation as parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We reaffirm that achieving a world without nuclear weapons is a common goal for the international community, and we continue to make every effort to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again.
Our countries are only as strong as our societies. We reaffirm our commitment to promoting the full and meaningful participation of women in our societies and to human rights and dignity for all.
We announce these shared principles at the start of our new chapter together, with the belief that they will continue to guide our trilateral partnership for years to come.
Above all, we recognize that we are stronger, and the Indo-Pacific is stronger, when Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States stand as one.
White House.gov. 08/18/2023.
Commitment to Consult (08/18/2023):
Among Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States
We, the leaders of Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States, commit our governments to consult trilaterally with each other, in an expeditious manner, to coordinate our responses to regional challenges, provocations, and threats affecting our collective interests and security. Through these consultations, we intend to share information, align our messaging, and coordinate response actions.
Our countries retain the freedom to take all appropriate actions to uphold our security interests or sovereignty. This commitment does not supersede or otherwise infringe on the commitments arising from the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security Between Japan and the United States and the Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of Korea. This commitment is not intended to give rise to rights or obligations under international or domestic law.
White House.gov. 08/18/2023.
FACT SHEET: The Trilateral Leaders’ Summit at Camp David (08/18/2023):
President Biden welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Kishida and Republic of Korea (ROK) President Yoon to a historic trilateral summit at Camp David, the first-ever stand-alone summit of Leaders from the United States, Japan, and the ROK, and the first summit of foreign leaders at Camp David during the Biden-Harris Administration. The Leaders jointly inaugurated a new era of trilateral partnership and reaffirmed that cooperation between the United States, Japan, and the ROK advances the security and prosperity of our people, the Indo-Pacific region, and the world.
This fact sheet provides an overview of the understandings that were affirmed or reaffirmed during the Summit, as well as plans for further cooperative activities between the United States, Japan, and the ROK.
White House.gov. 08/18/2023.
HIGH-LEVEL TRILATERAL CONSULTATIONS
Today’s Summit is the fourth meeting between President Biden, Prime Minister Kishida, and President Yoon over the fourteen months. The Summit is the culmination of numerous meetings between Foreign Ministers, Defense Ministers, National Security Advisors, and other senior officials across the three governments. Today, the three Leaders reaffirmed the critical importance of regular, high-level consultations between our countries.
White House.gov. 08/18/2023.
- Commitment to Consult: The Leaders announced their governments’ commitment to consult with each other in an expeditious manner to coordinate their responses to regional challenges, provocations, and threats that affect their collective interests and security.
- Annual Leaders’ Meeting: The Leaders decided to meet in-person at least annually to build on the momentum of the Camp David Trilateral Leaders’ Summit. At these meetings, Leaders will share assessments on a range of geostrategic issues and discuss opportunities for further trilateral cooperation.
- Annual Meetings Between Foreign Ministers, Defense Ministers, Commerce and Industry Ministers, and National Security Advisors: At least annually, foreign ministers from the United States, Japan, and the ROK will meet trilaterally with their counterparts; defense ministers will meet trilaterally with their counterparts; commerce and industry ministers will meet trilaterally with their counterparts; and national security advisors will meet trilaterally with their counterparts. The three countries will rotate hosting responsibilities of these separate, annual meetings, all focused on strengthening the trilateral relationship across domains. The three countries will also hold the first trilateral meeting between finance ministers.
- Annual Trilateral Indo-Pacific Dialogue: The Leaders decided that their governments would initiate an annual Assistant Secretary-led Indo-Pacific Dialogue focused on coordinating implementation of their respective Indo-Pacific approaches, with a particular emphasis on partnership with Southeast Asian and Pacific Island countries.
STRENGTHENING SECURITY COOPERATION
The United States, Japan, and the ROK are committed to further strengthening trilateral security cooperation, including through enhanced trilateral defense exercises, improved information sharing, and increased cooperation on ballistic missile defense, including against the DPRK’s missile threat. The three Leaders affirmed ongoing progress to regularize defensive exercises that contribute to strengthening trilateral responses to DPRK threats, resume maritime interdiction exercises and anti-piracy exercises, and expand trilateral cooperation in other areas, including disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.
White House.gov. 08/18/2023.
- Multi-year Trilateral Exercise Plan: Building upon the understandings reached by Defense Ministers in June 2023 at Shangri-La, as well as the recent successful trilateral ballistic missile defense and anti-submarine warfare exercises, the United States, Japan, and the ROK decided on a multi-year trilateral framework that includes annual, named, multi-domain trilateral exercises, which will constitute an unprecedented level of trilateral defense cooperation.
- Improved Cooperation on Ballistic Missile Defense: The United States, Japan, and the ROK affirmed the decision to activate a data-sharing mechanism to exchange real-time missile warning data that would improve the detection and assessment of DPRK missile launches, building upon the commitment made by Leaders at their meeting in Phnom Penh last year. The three leaders committed to operationalizing this mechanism by the end of 2023. This cooperation will strengthen our data sharing and enable all three countries to establish enhanced capabilities that will contribute to peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific.
- Trilateral Working Group on DPRK Cyber Activities: The United States, Japan, and the ROK decided to establish a new trilateral Working Group on DPRK Cyber Activities comprised of the U.S., Japanese, and ROK interagencies to coordinate efforts to counter DPRK illicit revenue generation and malicious cyber activities. The Working Group will focus on sharing intelligence; coordinating responses to the DPRK’s cryptocurrency use, theft, and laundering; addressing the DPRK’s use of IT workers for revenue generation through diplomatic and industry engagement; and disrupting malicious cyber actor operations.
- Enhanced Information Sharing and Coordination: The three Leaders affirmed the importance of increased information sharing, including the utilization of the 2014 U.S.-Japan-ROK Trilateral Information Sharing Arrangement and their respective bilateral General Security of Military Information Agreements. The United States, Japan, and the ROK will leverage existing secure lines of communications and continue building and institutionalizing respective communication channels.
- Countering Foreign Information Manipulation: Recognizing the increased threat posed by foreign information manipulation and the misuse of surveillance technology, the United States, Japan, and the ROK will discuss ways to coordinate efforts to counter disinformation.
BROADENING COOPERATION IN THE INDO-PACIFIC
As Indo-Pacific nations, the United States, Japan, and the ROK are committed to taking actions to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, along with partners in the region. They aim to bolster existing regional architecture, such as ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum, and enhance our respective capacity building and humanitarian efforts through greater coordination, including through the Partners in the Blue Pacific, the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, and the Friends of the Mekong.
White House.gov. 08/18/2023.
- Trilateral Development Finance Cooperation: The development finance institutions of the United States, Japan, and ROK – the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) – are signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen their cooperation to mobilize financing for quality infrastructure, including information and communications technology (ICT); carbon neutrality; and resilient supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
- Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation Framework: The United States, Japan, and the ROK are establishing a trilateral maritime mechanism to synchronize partner capacity building in Southeast Asia and Pacific Island countries, with a focus on Coast Guard and maritime law enforcement capacity building and maritime domain awareness.
- Development and Humanitarian Response Policy Dialogue: In October, the United States, Japan, and the ROK will convene a senior-level trilateral development and humanitarian response policy dialogue between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Japanese and ROK Ministries of Foreign Affairs. This will advance concrete discussions to coordinate assistance to regions across the globe, including the Indo-Pacific. To bridge policy and practice, USAID the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) will also collaboratively assist the development of partner countries by focusing on their needs.
DEEPENING ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION
The United States, Japan, and the ROK are strengthening trilateral cooperation to reinforce the rules-based economic order to enhance economic security; promote sustainable, resilient, and inclusive economic growth; and expand prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific and the world, building on shared leadership in the Minerals Security Partnership, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity negotiations. The Leaders committed to focusing efforts for trilateral cooperation, including through further Trilateral Economic Security Dialogues, on early warning systems for supply chain resilience; working to coordinate export controls on advanced technology; advancing their efforts to develop international standards and to ensure safe, secure, and trustworthy on artificial intelligence; coordinating infrastructure assistance in the Indo-Pacific region; ensuring financial stability as well as orderly and well-functioning financial markets; expanding collaboration on critical minerals; and working together to address economic coercion.
White House.gov. 08/18/2023.
- Women’s Empowerment Initiative: The United States, Japan, and the ROK highlighted the importance of women’s economic empowerment, and decided to continue building on existing trilateral initiatives on this topic through programs and events designed to build government, civil society, and corporate partnerships that advance women and girls in STEM fields, domestic care infrastructure, and women’s full and meaningful participation in all sectors of society.
- Supply Chain Early Warning System (EWS) Pilot: The United States, Japan, and the ROK decided to launch a pilot EWS, including through periodic information exchanges across their respective missions in a select set of countries, to complement early warning mechanisms such as with the European Union, and additional mechanisms being considered as part of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. They will identify priority products and materials—such as critical minerals, and rechargeable batteries—and establish mechanisms to rapidly share information on disruptions to crucial supply chains.
- Trilateral National Laboratories Cooperation: The United States, Japan, and the ROK will drive new trilateral cooperation between the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Laboratories and counterpart laboratories—supported by a budget of at least $6 million—to advance knowledge, strengthen scientific collaboration, and spearhead innovation in support of the three countries’ shared interests. Scientists and innovators from the three countries will advance collaborative projects on priority critical and emerging technology areas; potential areas of cooperation include advanced computing, artificial intelligence, materials research, and climate and earthquake modeling among other technology areas.
- Disruptive Technology Protection Network: The United States, Japan, and the ROK decided to expand collaboration on technology protection measures, including expanding information-sharing and the exchange of best practices across the three countries’ enforcement agencies. The three countries will build connections between the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Commerce-led Disruptive Technology Strike Force representatives and Japan and ROK counterparts through an inaugural exchange later this year.
- Technology Standards Cooperation: The United States, Japan, and the ROK will collaborate on advancing common principles to ensure safe, secure, and responsible development and applications of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology will seek to advance a bilateral framework with ROK counterparts to complement and strengthen ongoing efforts with Japan in multilateral fora such as the International Standards Cooperation Network.
EXPANDING GLOBAL HEALTH AND PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE COOPERATION
The United States, Japan, and the ROK are committed to protecting the health of their citizens and promoting global health security in the Indo-Pacific through joint research and data sharing. They are also committed to strengthening people-to-people ties through educational and professional exchanges and cooperative efforts that build capacity among the leaders of tomorrow to confront global challenges together.
White House.gov. 08/18/2023.
- Cancer Moonshot Cooperation: The United States, Japan, and the ROK committed to reinvigorate trilateral cooperation on the U.S. Cancer Moonshot, beginning with a trilateral cancer dialogue, led by high-level representatives from their respective national cancer institutes. This new initiative builds on a trilateral meeting of health experts that then-Vice President Biden hosted in 2016. The dialogue would enhance cooperation in the sharing of epidemiological data, research, exchange programs, clinical trials, regulations, academic partnerships, and the development of cutting-edge cancer therapies.
- The U.S.-ROK-Japan Trilateral Global Leadership Youth Summit: The Department of State will sponsor the first annual trilateral youth summit to be held in Busan in early 2024. The summit will bring together emerging Korean, Japanese, and American youth leaders to develop global leadership skills and share perspectives on global issues that affect the trilateral partnership.
- Trilateral Technology Leaders Training Program: The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies intends to host training programs on technology-policy issues for mid-career government officials from the United States, Japan, and the ROK. This program is designed to train the next generation of leaders to make critical decisions about how the technologies of the future are governed.
Readout of President Biden’s Meeting with President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea (08/18/2023):
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met with President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea (ROK) at Camp David today to discuss global and regional security issues and to advance bilateral security and economic cooperation.
Both leaders committed to working closely together to address the unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), including through extended deterrence activities consistent with the Washington Declaration. Both leaders affirmed their resolve to continue supporting Ukraine as well as to promote peace and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific, including in the South China Sea and across the Taiwan Strait.
The two leaders also highlighted progress on economic cooperation, especially on critical and emerging technologies, and confirmed the continuation of close collaboration between the United States and the ROK to fortify and strengthen multiple commercial sectors.
White House.gov. 08/18/2023.
Readout of President Biden’s Meeting with Prime Minister Kishida of Japan (08/18/2023):
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan at Camp David today to discuss global and regional security issues and to advance bilateral security and economic cooperation.
Both leaders affirmed their resolve to continue supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes as Ukraine defends itself from Russia’s brutal and unlawful aggression. Recognizing the U.S. commitment to the defense of Japan backed by the full range of U.S. capabilities, they committed to work together closely to address regional security challenges. The leaders expressed concern about the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) recent dangerous behavior in the South China Sea to assert its unlawful maritime claims. They also reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
The two leaders also highlighted significant progress on defense cooperation, including plans to pursue a Glide Phase Interceptor cooperative development program to counter high-end hypersonic threats, which will strengthen regional deterrence and build on long-standing missile defense cooperation between the two countries to promote stability.
White House.gov. 08/18/2023.
“Bidenomics” Tweets
From Saturday…
The video is 1 minute and 12 seconds long. The video was taken on 08/15/2023, during President Biden’s tour of Ingeteam, Inc., in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Teaser Intro:
President Biden: You guys are the best in the world. And you deserve to get paid. You deserve a union wage.
7 second mark:
President Biden: Hey, guys. How are you? Good to see you.
13 second mark:
Unnamed Person From Ingeteam says: So, the union members here–we’re manufacturing the wind generators. Ours is the unit that creates the energy in the wind turbine, which then goes out to the electrical grid. We have over here the electric vehicle charging station. So later this year, we’re going to start manufacturing that–[President Biden says “that’s a big deal”] in this facility right here.
31 second mark…
President Biden: This is going to revolutionize what we’re doing. 500,000 charging stations–that’s a lot of charging stations. That’s a lot of jobs. You guys are the best in the world. I mean, you really, truly are. It’s not like you say, “I want to be an electrician.” So okay, here you go, man. Go at it. Give me a break. There’s four to five years of apprenticeship. It’s like going back to college, it’s like going to graduate school. People don’t get it. They don’t understand how damn hard you work. You guys are doing a hell of a job. I really mean it. I told you I was going to be the most pro-labor President we’ve ever had–we’re doing it. Thanks, I really mean it. Keep the faith, guys.
From Sunday…
American Rescue Plan (03/11/2021).
Bipartisan Infrastructure Act (11/15/2021).
Inflation Reduction Act (08/16/2022).
CHIPS and Science Act (08/09/2022).
Maui Wildfire Tweets/Retweet(s)
From Friday…
From Saturday…
From Sunday…
Show more =’s for the community to recover.
From Monday…
From the White House…
FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration’s Latest Actions to Support Communities Impacted by Maui Wildfires (08/19/2023):
More than 1,000 Federal personnel are on the ground in Maui to support response efforts
Within hours of the devastating wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, President Biden signed a Major Disaster Declaration for the state and launched a whole-of-government effort to support residents and communities affected by this unprecedented tragedy. On Monday, August 21, President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Maui to meet with survivors, first responders and emergency personnel, and state and local officials. Our entire nation stands with Hawaii in this time of grief and recovery.
White House.gov. 08/19/2023.
Since the onset of the fires in Maui, President Biden has remained in close contact with Hawaii Governor Josh Green, affirming that the Federal government will continue to provide whatever support is needed to ensure the state’s recovery, however long it may take. The President has also received regular briefings from FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall.
Dozens of Federal departments and agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security through FEMA and the Coast Guard, the Department of Defense through the Navy and Army, the Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Forest Service, the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Environmental Protection Agency, and more continue working with state and local partners on the ground to assess ongoing needs and provide resources and personnel to support response efforts.
The Administration encourages individuals impacted by the disaster to register for Federal assistance at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Impacted individuals can also visit FEMA’s newly opened joint Disaster Recovery Center at the University of Hawaii Maui College, located at 310 W. Ka’ahumanu Avenue, Kahului, Hawaii, to speak personally with FEMA specialists, get assistance registering for disaster assistance, get in touch with voluntary organizations offering additional support services, and have access to other federal and state resources. The doors are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. HST seven days a week.
Here is an update on the Biden-Harris Administration’s coordinated federal response:
- As of Saturday, August 19, there are more than 1,000 federal personnel on the ground in Maui assisting residents in their greatest time of need, including more than 450 search and rescue team members. FEMA’s Disaster Survivor Assistance teams are going to shelters and survivors’ homes to help people register for assistance.
- To date, the Biden-Harris Administration has approved nearly $7 million in assistance to nearly 2,200 households, including nearly $3 million in initial rental assistance.
- FEMA has made available more than 50,000 meals, 75,000 liters of water, 5,000 cots and 10,000 blankets and shelter supplies to the county government for distribution.
- Thanks to the significant partnership between the Hawaii Fire Relief Housing program administered by the American Red Cross and funded by FEMA, the number of survivors in congregate shelters was reduced by 50% on Thursday. The Red Cross expects to move all survivors who are still in shelters into hotel rooms by next week. More than 300 Red Cross staff are working with partners to ensure people receive help as quickly as possible
- On Wednesday, President Biden made additional disaster funding available to the state of Hawaii, unlocking the federal government’s ability to cover all eligible expenses for debris removal and emergency protective measures in Maui County and assistance for emergency protective measures for Hawaii County. The President authorized the federal cost share to be increased from 75% to 100% for 30 days that the Governor selects within the first 120 days.
- More than 600 personnel from the Department of Defense and 140 members of the Coast Guard are actively participating in the coordinated response to the Western Maui Wildfire. They are assisting with fire suppression, searching debris for remains, distributing fuel, and providing additional life-sustaining support.
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has deployed 54 responders, 16 remote personnel, and 41 contractors who are assisting with public works and engineering support, which includes installing 11 generators for temporary emergency power, planning for debris collection and removal, and scoping potential requirements for temporary construction of critical public facilities such as schools, fire and police stations.
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has deployed 47 responders to Maui following the Hawaii wildfires and has a full incident command team on the ground working closely with FEMA and other federal, state, and local partners. The agency’s efforts are focused on identifying, removing, and safely disposing of household hazardous waste and disaster debris to protect residents from environmental and health hazards. This is the next step in the recovery process before the clearing of debris. EPA’s response efforts while on Maui will be guided by its cultural resources and historic properties plan that the agency is working to develop with the Hawaii State Historic Preservation Division. This plan will help responders identify, protect, and properly handle cultural resources, which were significantly impacted during the wildfire.
- The Department of Energy (DOE) has deployed emergency responders to support the Federal response to the wildfires in Maui. DOE is working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Hawaii State Energy Office, and the Hawaii Office of Emergency Management and has been in contact with Hawaiian Electric to identify and address any unmet needs.
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) deployed 85 responders from ASPR, including experts from the National Disaster Medical System’s Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team and a Victim Identification Center team to assist Maui County with victim identification.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has more than 30 staff on the ground in Hawaii and are phasing in more. Survivors and businesses who register for FEMA assistance, will also be eligible for low-interest disaster loans. To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, survivors must contact FEMA. Information and details on the location of business recovery centers is available by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955. Additionally, SBA this week opened a Disaster Business Recovery Center (BRC) for survivors of the Maui wildfires – including homeowners, renters, and small business owners – to seek financial assistance. The SBA Recovery Center is located at Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, Maui Research Technology Center, Building # A, Ste. 119 (Conference Room), 590 Lipoa Pkwy, Kihei, HI 96753.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service approved waivers, which will allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households in Hawaii, including on Maui, to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through September 14; allow package size flexibility for those using the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program through October 31 so they have more options to purchase what is available; and allow parents or guardians to pick up meals for children at grab ‘n go sites.
- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is providing a 90-day relief from foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration-insured mortgages and home equity conversion mortgages. Homeowners affected by the disaster should contact their mortgage or loan servicer immediately. They can also call the FHA Resource Center at 1-800-304-9320 for additional information and visit the FHA Disaster Relief site to learn more about disaster relief options for FHA homeowners. HUD also released regulatory and administrative waivers to help communities accelerate their recovery. This includes funding for housing rehabilitation and reconstruction, homebuyer programs replacing disaster damaged residences, infrastructure improvements and assistance to people at risk of homelessness. HUD has assigned experienced Disaster Technical Assistance providers that will be available remotely and, on the ground, to support local leaders help communities and families that were experiencing homelessness before the devastating fires and those that may require homeless services because of the fires.
- The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has created a disaster and emergencies guide to handling finances, including resources to help impacted residents recover, such as tackling housing issues, protecting your finances, dealing with property damage, managing your bills, and asking for help from financial companies like banks, credit cards and other lenders. If residents are having trouble with a financial company, they can submit a complaint online or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).
- The U.S. Department of Transportation currently has three temporary flight restrictions in place to help facilitate search and rescue missions and has worked with major U.S. airlines that serve Kahului Airport to promote flexible travel policies.
- The Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF), a partnership between FEMA and Smithsonian Institution, is in contact with the National Heritage Responders: Hawaii cultural heritage emergency network. Working in partnership through the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, HENTF is ensuring that museums and cultural heritage sites are incorporated into FEMA preliminary damage assessments to anticipate needs associated with long-term recovery planning.
Statement from President Joe Biden on Tomorrow’s Visit to Maui (08/20/2023):
My heart, my prayers, and my focus are on the victims of the Maui wildfires and their families. I know how profoundly loss can impact a family and a community and I know nothing can replace the loss of life. I will do everything in my power to help Maui recover and rebuild from this tragedy. And throughout our efforts, we are focused on respecting sacred lands, cultures, and traditions.
White House.gov. 08/20/2023.
From day one we immediately authorized three Fire Management Assistance Grants and as soon as Governor Green requested a Major Disaster Declaration, I signed it. My Administration has mobilized a whole-of-government response effort with more than 1,000 federal personnel on the ground in Maui, including nearly 450 search and rescue team members. Jill and I are eager to meet with the brave first responders in Lahaina tomorrow, to spend time with families and community members, and witness firsthand what will be required for the community to recover. We will be here as long as it takes for Maui.
FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration’s Latest Actions to Support Communities Impacted by Maui Wildfires (08/21/2023):
President Biden to appoint FEMA Regional Administrator for Region 9 Bob Fenton “Chief Federal Response Coordinator” for Maui to oversee the long-term coordinated federal recovery as Hawaii rebuilds
More than 1,000 Federal personnel are on the ground in Maui to aid response efforts
Today, Monday, August 21, President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Maui to meet emergency responders, survivors, community members, as well as federal, state, and local officials, and survey the area devastated by the deadly wildfires. The President and First Lady will affirm that our entire nation stands with Hawaii in this time of grief and recovery.
White House.gov. 08/21/2023.
As the recovery moves into the next phase, President Biden, alongside FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, will announce that he is appointing FEMA Region 9 Administrator Bob Fenton as the Federal government’s “Chief Federal Response Coordinator” for Maui. Mr. Fenton is one of the nation’s most experienced disaster response-and-recovery officials who has been on the ground in Hawaii from the day the wildfires started. In this role, Fenton will oversee the Federal government’s long-term recovery work on the ground for Maui. President Biden is directing Chief Federal Response Coordinator Fenton to ensure that every Federal asset is provided to help the community rebuild as fast as possible in Maui.
Since the onset of this unprecedented tragedy, President Biden launched a whole-of-government effort to support residents and affected communities – and as soon as Hawaii Governor Josh Green requested a Major Disaster Declaration, the President signed it. Dozens of Federal departments and agencies continue working with state and local partners on the ground to assess ongoing needs and provide resources and personnel to support response efforts.
Below are updated statistics and actions from the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole of government response, including a new U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announcement of the immediate availability of $3 million, the full amount of “quick release” Emergency Relief (ER) funds requested by the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT), to offset costs associated with traffic management services and repairs to infrastructure needed as a result of damage caused by wildfires.
The Administration encourages individuals impacted by the disaster to register for Federal assistance at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Impacted individuals can also visit FEMA’s newly opened joint Disaster Recovery Center at the University of Hawaii Maui College, located at 310 W. Ka’ahumanu Avenue, Kahului, Hawaii, to speak personally with FEMA specialists, get assistance registering for disaster assistance, get in touch with voluntary organizations offering additional support services, and have access to other federal and state resources. The doors are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. HST seven days a week.
Here is an update on the Biden-Harris Administration’s coordinated federal response:
- As of Sunday, August 20, there are more than 1,000 federal personnel on the ground in Maui assisting residents in their greatest time of need, including nearly 450 search and rescue team members and 40 canines trained to identify remains. FEMA’s Disaster Survivor Assistance teams are going to shelters and survivors’ homes to help people register for assistance.
- To date, the Biden-Harris Administration has approved $8.2 million in assistance to over 2,700 households, including $3.4 million in initial rental assistance.
- FEMA has made available more than 50,000 meals, 75,000 liters of water, 5,000 cots and 10,000 blankets and shelter supplies to the county government for distribution.
- Thanks to the significant partnership between the Hawaii Fire Relief Housing program administered by the American Red Cross and funded by FEMA, all survivors previously housed in congregate shelters will be offered temporary emergency lodging in hotels by the end of day on Monday, August 21. More than 350 Red Cross disaster responders are working in coordination with partners to ensure people receive help as quickly as possible.
- Last week, President Biden made additional disaster funding available to the state of Hawaii, unlocking the federal government’s ability to cover all eligible expenses for debris removal and emergency protective measures in Maui County and assistance for emergency protective measures for Hawaii County. The President authorized the federal cost share to be increased from 75% to 100% for 30 days that the Governor selects within the first 120 days.
- Nearly 650 personnel from the Department of Defense and 140 members of the Coast Guard are actively participating in the coordinated response to the Western Maui Wildfire. They are assisting with fire suppression, searching debris for remains, distributing fuel, and providing additional life-sustaining support.
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has deployed 62 responders, 16 remote personnel, and 43 contractors who are assisting with public works and engineering support, which includes installing 15 generators for temporary emergency power, planning for debris collection and removal, and scoping potential requirements for temporary construction of critical public facilities such as schools, fire and police stations.
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has deployed nearly 50 responders to Maui following the Hawaii wildfires and has a full incident command team on the ground working closely with FEMA and other federal, state, and local partners. The agency’s efforts are focused on identifying, removing, and safely disposing of household hazardous waste and disaster debris to protect residents from environmental and health hazards. This is the next step in the recovery process before the clearing of debris. EPA’s response efforts while on Maui will be guided by its cultural resources and historic properties plan that the agency is working to develop with the Hawaii State Historic Preservation Division. This plan will help responders identify, protect, and properly handle cultural resources, which were significantly impacted during the wildfire.
- The Department of Energy (DOE) has deployed emergency responders to support the Federal response to the wildfires in Maui. DOE is working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Hawaii State Energy Office, and the Hawaii Office of Emergency Management.
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) has deployed 95 responders from ASPR, including experts from the National Disaster Medical System’s Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team and a Victim Identification Center team to assist Maui County with victim identification. In addition, Secretary Becerra issued a Public Health Emergency shortly after the President’s disaster declaration, giving CMS health care providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries on the ground. HHS’ Disaster Distress Helpline – 1-800-985-5990 – is available to provide immediate counseling to anyone affected by the wildfires.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has more than 30 staff on the ground in Hawaii and are phasing in more. Survivors and businesses who register for FEMA assistance will also be eligible for low-interest disaster loans. To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, survivors must contact FEMA. Information and details on the location of business recovery centers is available by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955. Additionally, SBA this week opened a Disaster Business Recovery Center (BRC) for survivors of the Maui wildfires – including homeowners, renters, and small business owners – to seek financial assistance. The SBA Recovery Center is located at Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, Maui Research Technology Center, Building # A, Ste. 119 (Conference Room), 590 Lipoa Pkwy, Kihei, HI 96753.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service approved waivers, including those that will allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households in Hawaii, including on Maui, to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through September 14; allow package size flexibility for those using the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program through October 31 so they have more options to purchase what is available; and allow parents or guardians to pick up meals for children at grab ‘n go sites. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service has deployed a Burned Area Emergency Response team to analyze and map the impacts of the fire to watersheds, including the potential for runoff and debris flows to carry hazardous materials, and support state and local staff in assessing post-fire watershed conditions.
- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is providing a 90-day relief from foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration-insured mortgages and home equity conversion mortgages. Homeowners affected by the disaster should contact their mortgage or loan servicer immediately. They can also call the FHA Resource Center at 1-800-304-9320 for additional information and visit the FHA Disaster Relief site to learn more about disaster relief options for FHA homeowners. HUD also released regulatory and administrative waivers to help communities accelerate their recovery. This includes funding for housing rehabilitation and reconstruction, homebuyer programs replacing disaster damaged residences, infrastructure improvements and assistance to people at risk of homelessness. HUD has assigned experienced Disaster Technical Assistance providers that will be available remotely and, on the ground, to support local leaders help communities and families that were experiencing homelessness before the devastating fires and those that may require homeless services because of the fires.
- The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has created a disaster and emergencies guide to handling finances, including resources to help impacted residents recover, such as tackling housing issues, protecting your finances, dealing with property damage, managing your bills, and asking for help from financial companies like banks, credit cards and other lenders. If residents are having trouble with a financial company, they can submit a complaint online or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).
- U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is making available $3 million, the full amount of “quick release” Emergency Relief (ER) funds requested by the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT), to offset costs associated with traffic management services in the wake of the wildfires. Additionally, DOT currently has three temporary flight restrictions in place to help facilitate search and rescue missions and has worked with major U.S. airlines that serve Kahului Airport to promote flexible travel policies.
- The Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF), a partnership between FEMA and Smithsonian Institution, is working through the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to ensure that museums and cultural heritage sites are incorporated into FEMA preliminary damage assessments to anticipate needs associated with long-term recovery planning.
As of Sunday from the Maui County government website:
FIRE UPDATE
- Olinda fire (initially reported 8/8): now 85% contained. Estimated 1,081 acres. The Maui Fire Department is assisting State Division of Forestry and Wildfire with this joint fire-fighting effort.
- Kula fire (initially reported 8/8): now 85% contained. Estimated 202 acres.
- Lahaina fire (initially reported 8/8): now 90% contained. Estimated 2,170 acres.
- Pulehu / Kihei fire (initially reported 8/8): The Pulehu/Kihei fire was declared 100% contained 8/12. There are no active threats at this time.
FATALITY UPDATE
The most up-to-date fatality numbers and identification information are included in the Maui Police Department’s daily press release, anticipated to be issued by 6 p.m. daily. For that information, please visit: bit.ly/MauiPoliceNews . At the time of this announcement, there are 114 confirmed fatalities with 85% of the disaster area searched. There are no new positive identifications of the deceased to be announced at this time. Names will be released upon notification of next of kin. The Federal Bureau of Investigation continues to support with victim identification efforts.
Maui County.gov. 08/20/2023.
Just FYI Maui County issued an update on 08/18/2023 that explained:
FIRE UPDATE
Despite rumors that the fires are still raging, there has been no forward spread of any of the fires for several days now, Maui Fire Department reported tonight, 8/18. Fire activity has been limited to isolated hot spots within the existing footprint. County fire investigators concluded the Kula and Olinda fires have distinct origins. As mapping is refined in coming days, estimated fire acreage may be adjusted.
· Olinda fire (initially reported 8/8): Now 85% contained. Estimated 1,081 acres. There are no active threats at this time.
· Kula fire (initially reported 8/8): Now 85% contained. Estimated 202 acres. There are no active threats at this time.
· Lahaina fire (initially reported 8/8): Now 90% contained. Estimated 2,168 acres. There are no active threats at this time.
· Pulehu / Kihei fire (initially reported 8/8): Remains 100% contained. There are no active threats at this time.
* When a fire is 100% contained, it does not mean it has been extinguished. It means that firefighters have the blaze fully surrounded. A fire is declared “extinguished,” when fire personnel believe there is nothing left burning.
Maui County.gov. 08/18/2023.
Gun Safety Laws Tweet
From Sunday…
The quote shared is from Remarks by President Biden at the National Safer Communities Summit; the YouTube is 35 minutes and 1 second long (06/16/2023):
We all want our kids to have the freedom to learn to read and to write instead of learning how to duck and cover in a classroom.
White House.gov. 06/16/2023.
Hurricane–Tropical Storm Hillary Tweet
From Sunday…
Show more =’s continue coordinating with California, Nevada, and Arizona. We will also continue monitoring the Southern California earthquake and any resulting impacts.
Statement from President Joe Biden on Tropical Storm Hilary (08/20/2023):
As soon as Tropical Storm Hilary’s path became clear, my Administration took immediate action to prepare. At my direction, FEMA deployed to California federal personnel and supplies that can be surged to impacted communities. The U.S. Coast Guard pre-positioned aircraft to allow for rapid response and search-and-rescue efforts. My Administration also deployed federal personnel to Nevada to ensure the state has additional support, and we will continue to coordinate with California, Nevada, and Arizona on any resources they might need.
White House.gov. 08/20/2023.
This afternoon I spoke to California Governor Gavin Newsom about the emergency preparedness measures in place, and the initial response to Tropical Storm Hilary. I continue to be briefed on our preparedness efforts, and the storm’s potential impact – including flooding. My Administration stands ready to provide additional assistance as requested. I urge people to take this storm seriously, and listen to state and local officials.
We are also closely monitoring the earthquake that occurred in Southern California, and any resulting impacts.
Some stuff I found via Twitter…
My sources aka Google says that while the picture is real, it’s just wet asphalt that makes it appear the stadium now has a moat…
From YouTube…
ABC 7 (2:16): 8 hours old…
NBC News (20:41): 2 hours old…
This is an Open Thread.
