Joe Biden has started the transition process even as Trump refuses to concede.
Washington:
US President-elect Joe Biden in phone calls with leaders from Australia, Japan and South Korea insisted on maintaining a safe and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
According to readings of appeals made by his transition team, Biden spoke by telephone on Wednesday with Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan and President Moon Jae-in of South Korea. .
These were congratulatory appeals from all three leaders after Biden’s historic victory in the November 3 election.
In his appeal with Morrison, Biden stressed that the United States and Australia share both values and a history, and noted that the two countries have fought side by side in every conflict since World War I.
Biden said he looks forward to working closely with Morrison on many common challenges, including containing the COVID-19 pandemic and protecting against future threats to global health; deal with climate change; lay the foundation for global economic recovery; strengthen democracy and maintain a safe and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
The president-elect, during his phone call with Suga, thanked him for his congratulations and praised him for his continued leadership amid a government transition for Japan, according to the newspaper.
Biden underlined his deep commitment to the defense of Japan and the United States’ Article V commitments, and he expressed his strong desire to further strengthen the US-Japan alliance in new areas.
“They discussed the need to cooperate on COVID-19, build resilience in the face of future global health crises and start the global economic recovery. They also spoke about their shared commitment to tackling climate change, strengthening democracy around the world and strengthening the United States. Japan’s alliance as the cornerstone of a prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific region, ”the reading read.
Biden, during his phone call with Moon, expressed his desire to strengthen the US-Korea alliance as a fulcrum for security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
The president-elect praised Moon’s strong leadership on COVID-19, noting his commitment to cooperate to fight the pandemic, strengthen global health security, and boost global economic recovery.
He noted that he looks forward to working closely with President Moon on other common challenges, from North Korea to climate change.
They also discussed the shared values that underpin the US-Korea alliance as well as their mutual interest in strengthening democracy, according to the reading.
Biden had previously spoken with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Taoiseach Micheal Martin of Ireland.
