Biden says U.S. support for Israel, Ukraine can help hold the world together

Biden called on Congress to approve a massive US$100-million aid package that includes military aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, as well as security at the U.S.-Mexico border.

U.S. President Joe Biden made the case directly to the American people Thursday that the country has a “vital” national security obligation to help Israel and Ukraine, which will require billions of dollars of military aid.

In a rare primetime televised address from the Oval Office — the second of his presidency — Biden said he will ask Congress to approve an “urgent budget request” to support America’s “critical partners,“ including Israel and Ukraine, that the White House has said would be around US$100 billion.

Grouping the aid for Israel and Ukraine together underscored the multiple national and international security challenges the United States is currently facing, which Biden said require an American response.

“American leadership is what holds the world together,” he said. “American alliances will keep us, America, safe. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with.

“To put all that at risk — if we walk away from Ukraine, if we turn our backs on Israel — it’s just not worth it.”

Biden explicitly tied the experiences of Israelis and Ukrainians together and said Hamas, which the U.S. and Canada list as a terrorist entity, and Russian President Vladimir Putin have similar goals.

“Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: they both want to completely annihilate in neighbouring democracy,” he continued.

“History has taught us that when terrorists don’t pay a price for their terror, when dictators don’t pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction.”