President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., spoke today with Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea.
President Biden, calling from Air Force One, personally conveyed that he would be unable to travel to Papua New Guinea to meet with Prime Minister Marape and other Pacific Island Forum leaders due to the need to return to Washington for meetings with Congressional leaders to ensure that Congress takes action by the deadline to avert default.
READ NEXT : Readout of President Biden's Meeting with Congressional Leadership on Preventing Default
The President emphasized continued U.S. commitment to the renewed partnership with the Pacific Islands and conveyed that Secretary Blinken would represent him at the U.S. - Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Port Moresby.
President Biden also invited the Prime Minister and other Pacific leaders to Washington, DC later this year for the second U.S. summit with the Pacific Islands Forum, where leaders can continue discussions around enhancing U.S.-Pacific cooperation on shared priorities including combatting the climate crisis, increasing trade and economic ties, promoting maritime security, advancing sustainable and inclusive development, and increasing people-to-people engagement.
