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Biden in Vilnius for NATO Summit After Brief London Stop
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Transcript/ScriptPLAYBOOK SLUG: US UK NATO
HEADLINE: Biden in Vilnius for NATO Summit After Brief London Stop
TEASER: US president meets with UK prime minister amid differences on cluster munitions for Ukraine
PUBLISHED: 7/10/2023, 1:29p
BYLINE: Patsy Widakuswara
DATELINE: London
CONTRIBUTOR: Anita Powell
VIDEOGRAPHER:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: newhouse, Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCES: AP, AFP, Reuters
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO X_
TRT: 2:07
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE:
EDITOR NOTES: Radio track included. There is a web
TV Eds/Producers – Anita has added video cues currently available. Note that the Vilnius arrival shots have yet to move on wires ))
((INTRO))
[[U.S. President Joe Biden is in Vilnius, Lithuania, for the NATO summit after stopping in London to meet British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Their meeting was overshadowed by Washington’s announcement that it would send cluster munitions to Ukraine, despite the bombs being banned by 123 nations, including Britain. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara is traveling with the president and brings this report.]]
((NARRATOR))
U.S. President Joe Biden and other NATO leaders are in Vilnius for a two-day meeting hosted by
((NARRATOR))
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.
((Gitanas Nauseda, Lithuanian President)) ((language: Lithuanian))
"The fact that we are meeting in the neighborhood of an aggressor sends a strong signal of our unity and resolve. We are united and will defend every inch of the alliance.”
((NARRATOR))
Before Vilnius, Biden made a brief stop in London. He said relations with Britain were “rock solid” as he met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak,
((NARRATOR))
their sixth meeting in six months.
((President Joe Biden))
“We met in San Diego, Belfast, Hiroshima, and Washington, here, and couldn't be meeting with a closer friend and a greater ally.”
((NARRATOR))
But talks were overshadowed by Biden’s recent decision to send
cluster munitions to Ukraine, despite the bombs being banned by 123 nations, including Britain, for their indiscriminate killing capability.
((NARRATOR))
Still, Sunak sought to present unity ahead of the NATO summit.
((Rishi Sunak, British Prime Minister))
“Where we stand as two of the firmest allies in that alliance. And I know we all want to do everything we can to strengthen Euro-Atlantic security.”
((NARRATOR))
Allied leaders will seek the right balance to satisfy those who want Ukraine to be admitted to the alliance sooner, and those who worry that a fast track for Kyiv will mean a NATO war with Russia.
((Radio: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg))
((AFP V000_33NG8EX))
((Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary-General))
"It is for the allies and Ukraine to decide when the time is right to invite Ukraine to be a full member. The most urgent task now is to ensure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign and independent nation in Europe. Because unless Ukraine prevails, then there is no membership issue to be discussed at all. "
((NARRATOR))
They will discuss Sweden’s accession, still under ongoing objection from NATO member Turkey. Biden spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Sunday to persuade him to drop his objections, but still no deal.
((NARRATOR))
((NARRATOR))
Before Vilnius, Biden also met with King Charles the third at Windsor Castle,
to discuss climate financing for developing nations.
Patsy Widakuswara, VOA News, London.
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