President Joe Biden is set to depart for Rome and Vatican City on Thursday for the last foreign trip of his presidency. The White House has announced that the trip aims to showcase the strength of partnerships across the globe as Biden prepares to leave office in two weeks.
During the trip, President Biden will have the opportunity to meet with several international leaders, including His Holiness Pope Francis, the president of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The focus of the discussions will be on advancing peace worldwide and addressing the suffering of vulnerable communities, particularly through Pope Francis's human rights advocacy efforts.
In his meetings with Italian leaders, President Biden will emphasize the close and enduring bilateral relationship between the United States and Italy. He will also express gratitude to Prime Minister Meloni for her leadership as president of the G7.
One of the key highlights of the trip will be the announcement of a new agreement within the G7 to provide $50 billion in loans to Ukraine. These loans will be repaid using income generated from immobilized Russian sovereign assets, without imposing a burden on taxpayers.
First Lady Jill Biden will also be present during the trip and is scheduled to meet with World Food Program Executive Director Cindy McCain to discuss increased humanitarian assistance to address global crises.
Additionally, President Biden will participate in a virtual meeting with leaders from Japan and the Philippines to strengthen the trilateral partnership and enhance efforts towards a secure Indo-Pacific region.
