President Joe Biden avoided a near-disastrous slip-up during his welcome address to NATO leaders on Tuesday, as the eyes of the world looked to him to judge his fitness to serve four more years in the White House.
The president, visibly reading from the teleprompter, nearly read off the instructions as he awarded outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
“Ask the military aide,” Biden said, then paused.
“Military, come forward,” he said, almost avoiding making a mistake. He proceeded to award the medal, hanging it around Stoltenberg’s neck, without incident.
Biden faces a test of endurance with the start of a NATO summit on Tuesday, where US voters and leaders abroad will be watching to see how he holds up after his car crash with Donald Trump.
A strong showing will bring a sigh of relief among allies, who fear a Trump victory could lead to a return of American isolation. A slip-up will send their blood pressure soaring.
President Joe Biden (right) nearly avoided making a mistake by awarding NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (left) the Presidential Medal of Freedom
The three-day fitness test began Tuesday night, when Biden, 81, marked the organization’s 75th anniversary. It will continue with meetings and a dinner with world leaders on Wednesday and be rounded out by a news conference on Thursday.
Biden’s speech was relatively error-free and his words were forceful, but his attention remained focused on the teleprompter in front of him.
He also had a minor stumble when he tried to tell a story about his request to Stoltenberg to remain as NATO chief.
“I noticed you were talking to your wife. I asked you personally to extend your service,” Biden said, then chuckled. “Forgive me. You put your own plans on hold. You didn’t hesitate.”
Last year, Biden asked Stoltenberg to stay on for another year, and he agreed. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, chosen by NATO leaders, will succeed him and take office on October 1.
The theme of the welcome ceremony was the importance and strength of NATO.
In his remarks, Biden noted that “NATO is more powerful than ever today, with 32 nations.” Sweden and Finland joined the group last year.
But Biden also issued a warning about the threat from autocrats. His warning comes at a time when his fellow NATO leaders are concerned about the possibility of Donald Trump winning the 2024 presidential election.
“Autocrats have disrupted the global order,” he said.
Biden has made “restoring America’s place in the world” one of his main political platforms after Donald Trump’s years of isolationist politics.
“Remember that NATO is fundamentally democratic in character. It always has been and it must always remain so. NATO is a better resource than ever,” he said in his speech.
Trump has hinted that in a second term he would not defend NATO allies that have not paid their full contributions (2% of their respective GDP). The former president has also questioned the amount of aid to Ukraine.
Both prospects have unsettled NATO leaders.
Biden said he has gotten more NATO members to increase their quotas.
“2020 was the year I was elected president. Only nine NATO allies spend 2% of their GDP on defense,” he said. “This year, 23 will spend at least 2%.”
“Some countries will spend more than that, and others that have not yet reached that milestone will do so. This is remarkable progress, proof that our commitment is broad and deep.”
Biden also announced that the United States and other NATO allies will send Ukraine In the coming months, kyiv will acquire dozens of air defense systems, including at least four of the powerful Patriot systems that kyiv has been seeking.
“Russia will not prevail,” the president said.
“Ukraine can and will stop Putin,” Biden said.
NATO heads of government pose for a photo at the celebration of NATO’s 75th anniversary
US President Joe Biden (center), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (left), and Finnish President Alexander Stubb (right) pose for a photo on NATO’s 75th anniversary
The United States, Germany and Romania will send additional Patriot batteries to Ukraine, while the Netherlands and other countries will provide Patriot components to complete one more battery. Italy will provide a SAMP-T air defense system.
Other allies, including Canada, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom, will provide other systems that will help Ukraine expand its coverage. These systems include NASAMS, HAWK, IRIS T-SLM, IRIS T-SLS and Gepards. And other nations have agreed to provide munitions for these systems.
Biden will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
Tuesday’s welcome ceremony began with a video about the history of the alliance and the important role it has played in Europe over the past 75 years, with the narrator calling it “the most powerful alliance in human history.”
The video addressed the fall of the Berlin Wall and the September 11 attacks.
“True friendship is more than a promise, more than just a few signatures on a piece of paper. It’s a way of navigating through life, and when you prove yourself worthy of true friendship, you attract others with that same sense of commitment to your side,” the narrator said.
The military sang a melody and war songs. All the flags of the NATO countries were displayed and a bugle choir played the leaders’ anthem.
The White House brought in Hollywood heavyweights Ron Howard and Brian Grazer to produce the event, which featured music by famed composer Hans Zimmerman.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden arrives for the NATO 75th Anniversary Ceremony at Mellon Auditorium in Washington DC
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, from left, President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden and Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson at the welcoming ceremony
The meeting of the leaders of the 32 NATO countries (plus its Pacific partners Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, as well as Ukraine) is expected to be one of Biden’s last appearances at an international forum before Election Day.
He will also appear ahead of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week.
But, as a reminder of his age, Biden is the only head of government who was alive when NATO was founded.