Debt crisis: Joe Biden forced to interrupt major Oceania tour

He will return earlier than expected. Joe Biden will return to the White House on Sunday after the G7 summit in Japan to devote himself to tough public debt talks, refusing to travel to Australia and Papua New Guinea, the White House said Tuesday. The US president will return to Washington to meet the Republican opposition and “make sure Congress takes action by the deadline to avoid a default,” which would be unprecedented, US chief executive spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said in an interview. Press release.

Joe Biden informed Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of the postponement of his visit and formally invited him to the White House, she said. Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape was also briefed.

Joe Biden remains set to travel to Japan on Wednesday for the G7 summit, where he will meet with leaders of the Quad, an alliance formed by the US, Japan, Australia and India, said John Kirby, White House national security spokesman. Council during a press briefing. The American president has been actively engaged in diplomatic activity with Asia-Pacific leaders for several months now to strengthen American alliances in the face of the rise of China.

Biden is optimistic

Republicans and Democrats must absolutely agree that Congress authorizes the US federal government to take on more debt or it will no longer be able, perhaps from June 1, to pay government employees, pay pensions and social benefits, or reimburse its creditors. . The White House warns that this could lead to the collapse of the American and global economies.

Thus, on Tuesday, the American president met with four leaders of his party and the Republican Party in Congress to try to find an agreement. While he said he was optimistic after a “candid and productive” meeting, Republican House of Representatives boss Kevin McCarthy assured him there was “a lot of work to be done in a short amount of time” to find a middle ground. . Joe Biden will meet again by phone with key congressional officials this week and then meet with them again in person after returning from a trip to Japan on Sunday.