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President Biden's Speech at NATO Summit. Aired 9-9:30a ET

Aired June 30, 2022 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[09:00:00]

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Some as high as 3 percent. Together to deploy more assets and capabilities to bolster our alliances across all domains, land, air, sea, cyber, and space. We reaffirmed that our Article 5 commitment is sacred, and that the attack on one is an attack on all. And we will defend every inch of NATO territory. Every inch of NATO territory.

For our part, the United States is doing exactly what I said we would do if Putin invaded, and enhance our force posture in Europe. We'll station more ships in here in Spain. We're stationing more air defense in Italy and Germany, more F-35s in the United Kingdom. And to strengthen our eastern flank, new permanent headquarters for the Army 5th Corps in Poland.

An additional, an additional brigade combat team positioned in Romania. And additional rotational deployments in the Baltic countries. Things are changing to adapt to the world as we have it today.

And all of this is against he backdrop of our response to NATO's -- to Russia's aggression, and to help Ukraine defend itself.

The United States is rallying the world to stand with Ukraine. Allies and partners around the globe are making significant contributions. Secretary Austin just brought together more than 50 countries, more than 50 countries, pledging new commitments. And this is a global effort to support Ukraine.

Nearly 140,000 anti-tank systems, more than 600 tanks, nearly 500 artillery systems, more than 600,000 rounds of artillery ammunition, as well as advanced multiple launch rocket systems, anti-ship systems and air defense systems. And again, the United States is leading the way. We provided Ukraine with nearly $7 billion in security assistance since I took office.

The next few days, we intend to announce more than 800 million more including new advanced western air defense systems for Ukraine, more artillery and ammunition, counterbattery radars, additional ammunition for the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system we've already given Ukraine, and more HIMARS coming from other countries as well.

We'll also welcome, for the first time, our partners in the Indo- Pacific to participate in the NATO summit. As I indicated to Putin, this would be -- his action would cause worldwide response, bringing together democratic allies and partners from the Atlantic and the Pacific to focus on the challenges that matter to our future, and to defend the rules-based order against the challenges, including from China.

And the G-7 in Germany, we also launched what started off to be the Build Back Better notion, but it's morphed into the partnership for global infrastructure and investment, to offer developing and middle income countries, better options to meet their urgent infrastructure needs because when the United States and G-7 countries put skin in the game, it helped bring - helps bring millions of dollars up to - before it's all over, up to possibly a trillion dollars of private sector money off the sidelines. $600 billion in just the next few years.

Unlike China, these projects will be done transparently and with very high standards. For example, the U.S. government just facilitated a new partnership between two American firms and the government of Angola to invest $2 billion building a significant solar project in Angola. It's a partnership to help Angola meet its climate goals and energy needs while creating new markets for American technologies and good jobs, excuse me, in Angola. As you heard me say before, when I think climate, I think jobs. And the G-7 also said we'd work together to take on China's abusive and coercive trade practices and rid our supply chains of products made with forced labor.

We task our teams to work on the details of the price cap on Russian oil, to drive down Putin's revenues without hurting Americans and others at the gas pump. We'll see to use the funds from the tariffs on Russian goods to help Ukraine rebuild. We're committed - and we've committed more than 4.5 billion, more than half of that from the United States, to address food insecurity and the immediate crisis caused by the Russian war.

At every step of this trip, we set down a marker of unity, determination, deep capabilities of the democratic nations of the world to do what need to be done. Putin thought he could break the transatlantic alliance.

[09:05:02]

He tried to weaken us. He expected our resolve to fracture. But he's getting exactly what he did not want. He wanted the Finlandization of NATO. He got the NATO-ization of Finland. Think about this. That what he thought. Now, NATO and Sweden are closer than ever to joining in this (INAUDIBLE). We're more united than ever. And with the addition of Finland and Sweden, we'll be stronger than ever. They have serious militaries, both of them. We're going to increase the NATO border by 800 miles along the Finnish/Russian border. Sweden is all in.

The point is, we're meeting the goals I set out when we first -- the first G-7 meeting. We're moving to a place that reflects the realities of the twenty - the second quarter of the 21st century. And we're on the verge of making significant progress.

Now, I'll be happy to take your questions.

And first question, I'm told, is Darlene Superville from the Associated Press.

DARLENE SUPERVILLE, ASSOCIATED PRESS: Thank you, Mr. President.

Two questions, please.

BIDEN: Of course.

SUPERVILLE: America is back was your motto at the first NATO summit last year. And you've come this summit here and the one in Germany, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned constitutional protects for abortion, after the shootings in Buffalo and Texas, at a time of record inflation and as new polling this week shows that 85 percent of the U.S. public thinks the country is going in the wrong direction.

How do you explain this to those people who feel the country is going in the wrong direction, including some of the leaders you've been meeting with this week who think that when you put all of this together, it amounts to an America that is going backward?

BIDEN: They do not think that. You haven't found one person, one world leader to say America is going backward. America is better positioned to lead the world than we ever have been. We have the strongest economy in the world. Our inflation rates are lower than other nations in the world.

The one thing that has been destabilizing is the outrageous behavior of the Supreme Court of the United States in overruling not only Roe v. Wade, but essentially challenging the right to privacy. We've been a leader in the world in terms of personal rights and privacy rights. And it is a mistake, in my view, for the Supreme Court to do what it did.

But I have not seen anyone come up to me do anything other than -- nor have you heard them say anything other than, thank you for America's leadership. You've changed the dynamic of NATO and the G-7.

So, I can understand why the American people are frustrated because of what the Supreme Court did. I can understand why the American people are frustrated because of inflation. But inflation is higher in almost every other country. Prices at the pump are higher in almost every other country. We're better positioned to deal with this than anyone. But we have a way to go. And the Supreme Court, we have to change that decision by codifying Roe v. Wade.

SUPERVILLE: There were some comments by some of your counterparts after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

But my second question is, G-7 leaders this week pledged to support Ukraine, quote, for as long as it takes. And I'm wondering if you would explain what that means to the American people "for as long as it takes." Does it mean indefinite support from the United States for Ukraine or will there come a time when you have to say to President Zelenskyy that the United States cannot support his country any longer?

Thank you. BIDEN: We are going to support Ukraine as long as it takes. Look at

the impact that the war on Ukraine has had on Russia. They've had to renege on their national debt for the first time since the beginning - almost well over 100 years. They've lost 15 years of the gains they made in terms of their economy. They're in a situation where they're having trouble because of my imposition of dealing with what can be exported to Russia, in terms of technology. They can't even, you know, they're having - they're going to have trouble maintaining oil production because they don't have the technology to do it. They need American technology. And they also are in a similar situation in terms of their weapons systems, and some of their military systems. So, they're paying a very, very heavy price for this. And just today Snake Island is now taken over by the Ukrainians.

So, we are going to stick with Ukraine, and all of the alliance is going to stick with Ukraine, as long as it takes to, in fact, make sure that they are not defeated by Ukraine.

[09:10:05]

I mean, excuse me, in Ukraine by Russia.

And, by the way, think of this, Ukraine has already dealt a severe blow to Russia. Russia, in fact, has already lost its international standing. Russia is in a position where the whole world is looking and saying, wait a minute, all this effort, you try to take the whole country, you try to take Kyiv, you lost. You've tried to take the Donbas and all of it, you haven't done that yet.

The generic point is that we're supplying them with the capacity and the overwhelming courage they've demonstrated that, in fact, they can continue to resist the Russian aggression. And so I don't know what -- how it's going to end, but it will not end with a Russian defeat of Ukraine in Ukraine.

I'm supposed to go down the list here.

Jim at New York - Jim Tankersley of "The New York Times."

JIM TANKERSLEY, "THE NEW YORK TIMES": Mr. President, thank you.

This week you and G-7 allies introduced a plan for an oil price cap for Russian exports, which is not yet filled out and, obviously, is a response to the high price of gasoline in the United States and around the world.

Are you confident that that cap would bring down prices for American drivers, and how long is it fair to expect American drivers to continue to pay a premium because of this war?

BIDEN: Let me have -- the second part of the question was would it bring down the price?

TANKERSLEY: Will it bring down prices and the war has pushed prices up, they could go as high as $200 a barrel some analysts think. How long is it fair to expect American drivers and drivers around the world to pay that premium for this war?

BIDEN: As long as it takes so Russia cannot, in fact, defeat Ukraine and move beyond Ukraine. This is a critical, critical position for the world. Here we are, why do we have NATO? I told Putin that in fact if he were to move, we would move to strengthen NATO. We would move to strengthen us - strengthen NATO across the board.

Look, let me explain the price -- I suggested a while ago that what we should consider doing is putting a cap on the amount of money that we would pay for -- the world would pay for Russian oil and that we would not - there would -- we would not provide the west - provides (ph) insurance, would not ensure Russian ships carrying oil, we would not provide insurance for them, so they would have great difficulty getting customers.

The point is that we've said to them, here's the deal, we're going to allow you to have a profit on what you make, but not the exorbitant prices that you're charging for the oil now. We've - that we've delegated -- commissioned a group of our (INAUDIBLE) our national security people to sit down and work out that mechanism. We think it can be done. We think it can be done, and it would drive down the price of oil and it would drive down the price of gasoline as well.

In addition, in addition at home, I have also called for changes. We have - I've released a million barrels of oil per day from our oil reserve. And in addition to getting other nations to move forward, a total of 240 million barrels of oil to release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, number one.

Number two, I've asked Congress, would they, in fact, go and end the -- temporarily end the tax on gasoline at the pump. And, thirdly, to ask the states to do the same thing. If we do these things, it's estimated we could bring down tomorrow, if they -- Congress agreed and the states agreed, we could bring down the price of oil about a dollar a gallon at the pump in that range. And so we could have immediate relief in terms of the reduction of the elimination of -- temporary elimination of the gas tax.

And so I think there's a lot of things we can do, and we will do, but the bottom line is, ultimately the reason why gas prices are up is because of Russia. Russia, Russia, Russia. The reason why the food crisis exists is because of Russia. Russia not allowing grain to get out of Ukraine. And so that's the way in which I think we should move, and I think it would have a positive impact on the price at the pump as well.

[09:15:03]

Jordan Fabian, "Bloomberg."

JORDAN FABIAN, "BLOOMBERG": Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.

I also have two questions for you.

BIDEN: Of course. FABIAN: Thanks.

The first one is on Turkey. What assurances, if any, did you make to President Erdogan about his request for new F-16 jets for his military?

BIDEN: What I said was I said back in December, as you'll recall, we should sell them the F-16 jet and modernize those jet as well. It's not in our interest not to do that. And I indicated to them that I've not changed my position at all since December. And there was no quid pro quo with that, it's just that we should sell. But I need congressional approval to be able to do that. And I think we can get that.

FABIAN: My second question is on your trip to Saudi Arabia, which is coming up next month. As we just discussed, Americans are paying almost $5 a gallon nationally on average for gas. So, do you expect to ask the crown prince or the king to increase oil production? And, if so, how will you balance that with your desire to hold them accountable for their human rights abuses?

BIDEN: Well, first of all, that's not the purpose of the trip. The purpose of the trip, of my -- first of all, I'm starting off on that trip in Israel. And the Israelis are -- believe it's really important that I make the trip. And in addition to that, what we're trying to do is - it's - he said - it's the gulf states plus three. And so I'm sure that as -- in Saudi Arabia, but it's not about Saudi Arabia. It's in Saudi Arabia. And so there's no commitment that it being made or -- I'm not even sure -- I guess I will see the king and the crown prince, but that's -- that's not the meeting I'm going to. They'll be a part of a much larger meeting.

And what we're talking about in dealing with that trip is that before I go I am, as I said, going to Israel to meet with the Israeli leader to affirm the unbreakable bond Israel and the United States have. And part of the purpose is -- the trip to the Middle East is to deepen Israel's integration into the region, which I think we're going to be able to do, and which is good for peace and good for Israeli security.

And that's why Israel leaders have come out so strongly for my going to Saudi. But the overall piece here is, we're also going to try to reduce the deaths and the war that's occurring. I mean there's a whole range of things that go well beyond anything having to do with Saudi in particular.

FABIAN: But if you were to see the crown prince or the king, would you ask them to increase oil production?

BIDEN: No, I'm not going to ask them. I'm going to ask the - all the gulf states are meeting. I've indicated to them that I thought they should be increasing oil production generically, not to the Saudis particularly. And I think we're going to -- I hope we see them in their own interests concluding that makes sense to do. And, you know, they have real concerns about what's going on in Iran and other places in terms of their security as well. All of them.

Terena (ph), "The Wall Street Journal."

TERENA (ph), "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL": Thank you, Mr. President.

I'm going to keep the trend and also ask two questions if that's OK.

One on the summit, and one domestic question.

On the summit, you just said that there would be another round of security assistance for Ukraine. After hearing President Zelenskyy's assessment that the war needs to end before the winter, are you changing your calculation in terms of the pace of the assistance and what kind of assistance you're sending to Ukraine?

BIDEN: No, I -- the war could end tomorrow, by the way, if Russia stops its irrational behavior. So, you know, when the war will end, I hope it ends sooner than later. But for it to end, they have to be in a position where the Ukrainians have all that they can reasonably expect, we can reasonably expect to get to them in order to provide for their physical security and their defenses. And so one does not relate to the other. They need -- we're going to be providing another, I guess I'll announce it shortly, another $800 billion -- $800 million in aid for additional weaponry, including, you know, weapons -- including air defense systems, as well as offensive weapons.

[09:20:18]

I have a whole list I'd be happy to give you, but that's the next tranche that's going to occur.

TERENA: And on the domestic question, sir, what further specific executive actions are you considering in response to the Roe ruling, and would you declare a public health emergency as several Democrats are calling on you to do?

BIDEN: I'll be happy to go in detail with you on that on the -- I'm having a meeting with a group of governors when I get home on Friday. And I'll have announcements to make then. But the first and foremost thing we should do is make it clear how outrageous this decision was and how much it impacts, not just on a woman's right to choose, which is a critical, critical piece, but on privacy generally. On privacy generally.

And so I'm going to be talking to the governors as to what actions they think I should be taking as well. And -- but the most important thing, to be clear about is, we have to change -- I believe we have to codify Roe v. Wade in the law. And the way to do that is to make sure that Congress votes to do that. And if the filibuster gets in the way, it's like voting rights, it should be -- we provide an exception for this - the except - the -- require an exception to the filibuster for this action to deal with the Supreme Court decision.

Hang on, I got one more here. Kelly O'Donnell, NBC.

KELLY O'DONNELL, NBC: Thank you, Mr. President.

Well, you just made some news saying you would support changing the filibuster rules to codify abortion rights broadly across the country.

BIDEN: Right to privacy, not just abortion rights, but, yes, abortion rights.

O'DONNELL: Can you describe for us, sir, many Americans are grappling with this, what is your sense today about the integrity and the impartiality of the Supreme Court? Should Americans have confidence in the court as an institution? And your views on abortion have evolved in your public life. Are you the best messenger to carry this forward when Democrats, many of them, many progressives, want you to do that (ph)?

BIDEN: Yes, I am, I'm the president of the United States of America. That makes me the best messenger. And I really think that it's a serious, serious problem that the court has thrust upon the United States, not just in terms of the right to choose, but in terms of the right to who you can marry, the right -- a whole range of issues relating to privacy.

And I have written way back a number of large articles about the Ninth Amendment and the 14th Amendment and why privacy is considered as part of a constitutional guarantee. And they just wiped it all out. And so I'm the only president they got, and I feel extremely strongly that I'm going to do everything in my power, which I legally can do, in terms of executive orders, as well as push the Congress and the public. The bottom line here is, if you care, if the polling data is correct and you think this decision by the court was an outrage or a significant mistake, vote. Show up and vote. Vote in the off year, and vote, vote, vote. That's how we'll change it.

All right, guys. I - no, there's no such thing as a quick one. I'm out of here. Thank you, all, very much.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: President Biden there in Madrid, at the NATO summit, completing a press conference where he answered a range of questions, including on Russia, the expansion of NATO, war in Ukraine, but also domestic issues.

He began by saying, and these words stuck out to me, the world has changed and NATO is changing as well, describing an entirely different security posture in Europe. Russia is a real threat, singling out China as well, he says, as a threat, in his words, to an international rules-based order.

But he also made a little news there towards the end, announcing that he will announce in the coming days $800 million in new military aid to Ukraine, including, he said, air defense systems, as well as offensive weapons.

CLARISSA WARD, CNN ANCHOR: And I think it was very interesting.

[09:25:00]

He was quick to rebut any sort of suggestion that world leaders had been disappointed in America. He said that world leaders had been coming up to him at this summit, continuously saying, thank you, America.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

WARD: And he also had a sort of mantra moment almost when he said, if you're worried about pain at the pump, if you're worried about the economy, I've got three words for you. They say Russia, Russia, Russia.

SCIUTTO: Russia, Russia, Russia. Yes.

WARD: And trying to sort of instill that in the American psyche that the issues that he is facing politically in the U.S., some of them do relate to Russia.

SCIUTTO: And in very strong terms on the question of the Supreme Court decision, he said, when he was asked about whether world leaders are concerned about events in the U.S. stability is that the one destabilizing factor, in his words, is he said the outrageous behavior -

WARD: Of the Supreme Court.

SCIUTTO: As he described of the Supreme Court referencing the Roe v. Wade decision.

Our Kaitlan Collins was in the room for the press conference.

Kaitlan, what stood out to you?

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: There were a lot of comments there, Jim, that stood out.

Of course, the president saying that he is willing to have the United States support Ukraine for as long as it takes, talking about the question of whether or not there is going to be fatigue when it comes to all these country's support for this war. That has been something that has been a big question facing these leaders as they've been here, they're confronting their own crises at home when it comes to inflation and higher prices. So, the president saying that that support will continue.

Notably, he said that they are not changing what they are sending to Ukraine based on those comments and what President Zelenskyy said to them, which is that he'd like to see this war come to an end by the end of 2022. Just six months away, of course.

And so there was a question about whether or not he's ratcheting up what they - what the United States is sending to Ukraine. He did say in his next $800 million tranche that there will be offensive weapons sent to Ukraine, in addition to what else we've already reported at CNN, that the United States is prepared to send. Some notable comments there from the president.

I should note that as he was leaving the room, I asked him if he is prepared to label Russia a state sponsor of terrorism. Because that is something that President Zelenskyy has asked for. Jim, he did not answer that question.

But also what else really stood out was when it comes to the domestic politics at home and this decision that has really rocked the country by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. And the president saying there that he would support an exception to the filibuster that would codify rights into law for privacy, not abortion specifically, but this broader argument that he's been making that he believes this decision by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade could affect then other decisions when it comes to gay marriage, when it comes to the right to contraception. All of these issues that are, of course, now top of mind.

But one thing we should note, he did not offer any preview of new, executive orders that he's prepared to sign to protect the right to get an abortion in the United States. Instead, he said he will be meeting with states governors when he gets back to the White House on Friday. Maybe potentially coming up with something there. Though, of course, we should note, this is something the White House knew was coming after that draft document leaked of the opinion that eventually was issued by the Supreme Court, Jim.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

WARD: And we're joined now also with the rest of our panel. Christiane Amanpour, Gloria Borger, Kasie Hunt, Evan Osnos, David Axelrod, as well, joins us.

You know, Christiane, I wanted to touch on a point with you that the president made. There's been a lot of speculation as to how far does the political will go, how long does the commitment last to support Ukraine. And we heard President Biden say unequivocally, as long as it takes, and another quote that I thought was interesting, I don't know how it's going to end, but it will not end with the Russians defeating Ukraine.

What do you think is going to be the international response to that, Christiane?

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Well, I think it's going to be welcome. And if -- I did hear President Biden say that. And that is a bumper sticker. That is an important, strategic declaration he's just made. That means Ukraine has to win. That means the United States and everybody else has to step up their commitment in terms of hardware.

They have sent historic amounts of aid. It is absolutely true. It's uncontestable what the west has done and achieved over the last four months, since this war. It's now in its fifth month and they've shown a unity and a resolve and a huge amount of military and financial and humanitarian help, only it's not yet enough.

So, if the president says Ukraine has to win, and Russia will not win, then that needs to be ramped up.

May I just make a point as well, because the president addressed it and you've all been talking about it, and American women are very concerned about it. I have spoken to three world leaders in this past week, all of whom have expressed a deep, deep sadness and concern and worry for the state of American women's rights. They have all said the G-7 leadership, Ursula von der Leyen, the EU president, told me they expressed sadness and concern and deep worry for the specific Roe v. Wade being overturned and the -- what it means to women's rights.

[09:30:02]

The prime minister of Sweden, a woman, in a country with a feminist foreign policy, expressed deep sadness.