Transcript - Remarks: Joe Biden Holds a Bilateral Meeting With Mark Rutte of the Netherlands - January 17, 2023 | Factba.se

Joe Biden

00:00:00 - 00:00:09 ()

Well, Mr. Prime Minister, it's great to see you again. We've been in many, many meetings together, but it's good to have you here in the Oval Office.

Joe Biden

00:00:09 - 00:00:12 ()

And you're welcome despite -- despite the World Cup match.

Mark Rutte

00:00:12 - 00:00:13 ()

Yeah, sorry. [Laughs]

Joe Biden

00:00:13 - 00:00:21 ()

And in spite of that, you know, you're one of our strongest allies and personal friends, and you've been a great, great personal ally as well.

Joe Biden

00:00:21 - 00:00:32 ()

And together, we're stepping up our protection for democratic values across the world. And we're -- you know, including standing strong with Ukraine.

Mark Rutte

00:00:32 - 00:00:32 ()

Joe Biden

00:00:32 - 00:00:43 ()

And you've been very, very stalwart. And we look to you as well to make sure we have a coherent European response -- all Europe -- in response to Ukraine.

Joe Biden

00:00:43 - 00:00:53 ()

And Russia is just continuing to act in ways that are almost unbelievable -- the brutality with which they're acting.

Joe Biden

00:00:53 - 00:01:10 ()

Together, we're promoting human rights and the rule of law, and we'll be co-hosting the next summit on the -- the Summit of Democracies in March, which we'll be together again. And there's a lot that we have to work on together.

Joe Biden

00:01:10 - 00:01:28 ()

And together, we're working on how to keep a free and open Indo-Pacific and, quite frankly, meet the challenges of China. Simply put, our companies -- our countries have been, so far, in just lockstep in what we've done and our vision for the future.

Joe Biden

00:01:28 - 00:01:41 ()

And so, today, I look forward to discussing how we can further deepen our relationship and securing our supply chains to strengthen our transatlantic partnership.

Joe Biden

00:01:41 - 00:01:49 ()

And thank you again, Mr. Minister. We've had a great relationship with both our countries and personally. And I look forward to discussing a lot more in detail.

Mark Rutte

00:01:49 - 00:01:53 ()

Thank you. Thank you so much. And also, thank you for hosting me. It's the first time in my --

Joe Biden

00:01:53 - 00:01:53 ()

Mark Rutte

00:01:53 - 00:01:55 ()

-- five visits that the fireplace --

Joe Biden

00:01:55 - 00:01:57 ()

That's right. The fireplace.

Mark Rutte

00:01:57 - 00:01:58 ()

Mark Rutte

00:01:58 - 00:02:08 ()

And typically, I would start with the economy. And then I would have told the press that we are the second biggest investor in the U.S, and the United States is the biggest investor in Europe.

Mark Rutte

00:02:08 - 00:02:30 ()

But I think we should talk Ukraine. And we have seen this terrible footage coming out of Dnipro this weekend, where innocent children, men, and women, again, were under rocket fire, and this apartment building was hit and many people died. These are horrible pictures. And I think it -- it strengthens even more our resolve to stay with Ukraine.

Mark Rutte

00:02:30 - 00:02:52 ()

And I want to commend you personally and the United States for your leadership. I'm convinced that history will judge that in 2022, if the United States would not have stepped up like you did, that things would have been very different at the moment in this -- in the fight between Ukraine and Russian aggression.

Mark Rutte

00:02:52 - 00:02:55 ()

And we have decided to spend another two and a half billion on --

Joe Biden

00:02:55 - 00:02:55 ()

Mark Rutte

00:02:55 - 00:03:03 ()

-- helping the Ukraine war effort. If you compare this to the size of America, it would be over $50 billion -- $50 billion.

Mark Rutte

00:03:03 - 00:03:17 ()

We have the intention to join what you are doing with Germany on the Patriots project, so the air defense system. I think that is important that we join that. I discussed it also, this morning, with Olaf Scholz of Germany.

Mark Rutte

00:03:17 - 00:03:34 ()

And then, on accountability, we can never accept that Putin and Russia get away with this. So, accountability to take them to court to make sure that this all gets done in -- also in a legal way is crucial. And I know that you and I are working on this.

Mark Rutte

00:03:34 - 00:03:52 ()

But again, your leadership -- United States, you personally -- has been crucial. So, again, I want to thank you for that. And let's stay closely together this year. And, hopefully, things will move -- yeah -- forward in a way which is acceptable for Ukraine. They have done so much. And this year will be important.

Mark Rutte

00:03:52 - 00:03:54 ()

So, again, thank you.

Joe Biden

00:03:54 - 00:04:13 ()

They have. And one of the things -- if I could just add very quickly: Europe continues to step up, respond to Russian actions. There's more to do, and we -- we have to stay together. And it's been -- been really, really, really important that you've been there every single step of the way. So, thank you.

Joe Biden

00:04:13 - 00:04:15 ()