US Pesident Joe Biden has cancelled his upcoming visits to Papua New Guinea and Australia due to the ongoing debt ceiling negotiations in Washington.
White House White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement that Biden spoke to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to inform him he will be postponing the trip and invited the prime minister for an official state visit “at a time to be agreed by the teams.”
Jean-Pierre adds that the “President’s team engaged” with the prime minister of Papua New Guinea.
Biden will still travel to Japan starting today as part of what was supposed to be a weeklong trip through the Pacific region.
Yesterday, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby told reporters that the White House was “reevaluating” the stops to Papua New Guinea and Australia.
The cancellation comes as congressional leaders met with Biden at the White House to discuss the debt limit.
The Treasury Department has warned that the government default could come as early as June 1st, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said a default would trigger a global economic downturn.
Source : CNN
