This wasn’t Joe Biden’s first NATO appearance, but never has the embattled US president been this closely watched by allies at home and abroad for proof he can still lead.
The 81-year-old has endured 12 days of withering questions about his fitness for office as some of his fellow Democrats and campaign donors fear he will lose the November election.
Now, Mr Biden has delivered a forceful address to NATO members in Washington in his highest-profile policy speech since his halting debate performance last month.
While the White House will no doubt be hoping he can turn the page on a difficult period in his presidency, some diplomats say the damage may have already been done.
Biden pledges to defend Ukraine against Russia
The centrepiece of the NATO summit is set to be new commitments of military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
“[Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants nothing less, nothing less, than Ukraine’s total subjugation … and to wipe Ukraine off the map,” Mr Biden said in his address.
In contrast to the presidential debate, Mr Biden read from a teleprompter with a strong and confident voice and largely avoided the verbal flubs and signs of confusion that marked his previous performance.
“Ukraine can and will stop Putin,” he said.
Mr Biden and the leaders of Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Romania issued a joint statement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, announcing the delivery of five additional Patriot and other strategic air defence systems.
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They said additional strategic air defence systems would be announced this year.
“Today NATO is stronger than it’s ever been in its history,” Mr Biden added.
Ukraine ultimately wants to join NATO to ward off future Russian attacks but candidates have to be approved by all of the alliance’s members, some of which are wary of provoking a direct conflict with Russia.
Diplomats still doubt Biden’s staying power
NATO, celebrating its 75th anniversary, has found new purpose in opposing Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and the grinding war will dominate private conversations between the leaders of the alliance’s member countries.
Those leaders, already anxious about the prospect of Donald Trump’s return, came to Washington with fresh concern about Mr Biden’s staying power, according to diplomats from their countries.
Mr Biden will hold a rare solo press conference on Thursday (Friday morning Australian time), also aimed at quieting concerns.
Mr Biden has made restoring traditional alliances abroad the centrepiece of his foreign policy since Mr Trump challenged allies as part of an “America First” approach.
The winner of November’s US election could have a substantial impact on the future of NATO, Europe and the rest of the world.
“We don’t see how he can come back after the debate,” said one European diplomat speaking to news agency Reuters.
They dismissed the NATO speech as evidence of Mr Biden’s endurance because it was scripted.
“I can’t imagine him being at the helm of the US and NATO for four more years,” the diplomat said.
Mr Trump has suggested that, given a second term, he would not defend NATO members if they came under military attack and did not meet the alliance’s defence spending target of 2 per cent of their annual GDP.
He has also questioned the amount of aid given to Ukraine in its battle against Russia’s invasion.
As Mr Biden tried to rally allies and domestic support, several high-ranking European officials met with a top foreign policy adviser to Mr Trump during the summit.
Biden bestows highest honour on Stoltenberg
Mr Biden closed his remarks by surprising NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, clasping the highest US civilian award around the Norwegian politician’s neck and crediting him with reviving the 32-member alliance.
“NATO’s alliance of nations are also made up of leaders, and one person in particular has done an extraordinary job leading NATO for the last decade,” Mr Biden said.
“When the Russian war in Ukraine began, you didn’t hesitate.
“Today NATO is stronger, smarter and more energised than when you began.”
ABC/wires
