[SUV carrying Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez arrives at the White House]
[U.S. President Joe Biden and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in the Oval Office]
Joe Biden (interview): “During that visit I said that … you said that our two nations are linked by a shared desire, I think the quote was, ‘to promote the principles of freedom.’ I couldn’t agree with you more, because that’s at stake in many parts of the world. Together we’re supporting Ukraine. I can’t thank you enough for your significant support for Ukraine and it matters a great deal and for your leadership, the partnership and the challenge. Also, we signed a defense cooperation agreement, and I appreciate that as well. Thank you for letting us station two destroyers in Spain. And together, we’re helping … you’re helping us face the challenges … we both face, the challenges of migration in the Western Hemisphere. You’re doing a heck of a job. And Mr. President, you’re about to take on the European Council presidency this summer. And I’m anxious to talk to you about that as well. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”
Pedro Sánchez (interview): “I do believe that Spain and the United States, we, we share common values and our bilateral relations are excellent. We are allies, friends, and also strategic partners.”
“The first one is on Russia’s aggressions in Ukraine. I do believe that the Transatlantic bond and the unity among allies remains rock solid, Mr. President. We support Ukraine. Of course, we work for a lasting and just peace that respects fully the international law and also the principles of the U.N. charter. Make no mistake, in this war, there is an aggressor and a victim and the aggressor is President Putin. So this will be the first topic. The second topic is how our governments, the US administration and also the Spanish government, we put in the center of our political priorities and the benefit to our middle and working classes, the green transition and the digital transformation.”
“How do we as Europeans, strengthen our bilateral cooperation with Latin America, which is a part of the world, a region where Spain and the US, we have common interests about democracy, prosperity and a safe, regular and orderly migration (unclear). And last but not least, of course, we will talk about our bilateral relations, which I think are excellent on the defense, as President Biden said, and also on science, trade, investments. We also are going to sign agreements to work together at the multilateral level in order to to boost gender equality, LGBT rights and also climate change, to name a few.”
“I do believe that the world needs a US president that is committed to fighting the good fight like you do, and you can count on Spain in that endeavor. So, let’s keep on doing so.”
This script was provided by The Associated Press.