Biden to Host Dutch PM in White House Next Tuesday

U.S. President Joe Biden will welcome Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at the White House next Tuesday for talks about the Ukrainian-Russian crisis.

Being Allies in the NATO defense alliance, the two leaders "will reaffirm our shared efforts to strengthen transatlantic security and economic prosperity," a White House noted in a statement.

Following the announcement, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby called the Netherlands “a very key supporter of security assistance in Ukraine.”

The Netherlands has already contributed $3 billion to support Ukraine and has committed to spending $1 billion more.

Biden and Rutte also intend to talk about their "cooperation on strategic technologies and their shared vision of a free and secure Indo-Pacific region," a phrase that refers to China's efforts to expand its influence.

Kirby pointed out the two leaders plan to discuss the Summit for Democracy, which they are co-hosting with Costa Rica, South Korea, and Zambia in late March.

Biden hosted the inaugural democracy summit in December 2021, which the administration billed as the start of a global conversation about how best to halt the backsliding of democracy.