Biden scraps visits to Australia, Papua New Guinea over debt limit talks

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden is scrapping planned visits to Australia and Papua New Guinea after the G-7 summit in Japan to instead focus on talks in Washington on the nation’s debt limit, the White House said Tuesday.

"President Biden will return to the United States on Sunday, following the completion of the G-7 summit, in order to be back for meetings with Congressional leaders to ensure that Congress takes action by the deadline to avert a default," said spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement.

Biden will depart on Wednesday for Hiroshima, Japan for the summit.

Jean-Pierre said Biden spoke to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier in the day to inform him that he will be postponing his trip to Australia. He invited Albanese for an official state visit at a time to be agreed on by their teams.

During his visit to Australia, Biden had been scheduled to attend a meeting of the so-called Quad partnership comprising the US, Australia, India and Japan.

Biden's team also engaged with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape’s team to inform them as well, according to the White House.

"The President has made clear that members of Congress from both parties and chambers must come together to prevent a default, as they have 78 times before. The President and his team will continue to work with the Congressional leadership to deliver a budget agreement that can reach the President’s desk," said the statement.

"Revitalizing and reinvigorating our alliances and advancing partnerships like the Quad remains a key priority for the President. This is vital to our ability to advance our foreign policy goals and better promote global stability and prosperity," said the statement.

"We look forward to finding other ways to engage with Australia, the Quad, Papua New Guinea and the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum in the coming year," it added.