Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2023

June 5, 2023

President Biden. All right. [Laughter] Well, welcome. I am delighted to have Madam Prime Minister here today. Great to see you again.

We were just talking about the last time we met. I had the opportunity, which was a great opportunityâunrelated to anything having to do with foreign policyâthatâfor her to meet my granddaughters, who are bright young women who are college and law school graduates, who still talk to me about their meeting with the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Frederiksen. Thank you.

President Biden. And as we all knowâwe don't talk often much about itâDenmark is one of our greatest allies and most reliable friends, closest friends, and on lockstep in every global issue that we've been engaged in.

And I understand today is Constitution Day.

Prime Minister Frederiksen. Yes, it is. It is.

President Biden. And it'sâit reflects the fact that we have the same values. I mean, you know, I always talk about how it's about values, whether a country is organized around a certain set of values, and Constitution Day is not dissimilar than our U.S. Constitution. And the idea that there's a shared commitment to the core values ofâthat gives our strength. At least, that's what I believe.

And together, we're working to protect those values, including standing up for the people of Ukraine against the brutal aggression of the Russians.

And we've alsoâaddressing the global challenges, from promoting inclusive economic growth and the climate crisis. And I want to thank you for your clean energy transition leadership. I really mean it.

And together with NATO allies, we're taking steps to strengthen our shared security, including finishing our bilateral defense cooperation agreement that we're working on.

And I want to thank you again, Madam Prime Minister, for making the effort to be here.

We're anxious to see you.

So, welcome. And the floor is yours.

Prime Minister Frederiksen. Thank you so much, Mr. President. It's really nice to see you again and to be here.

I would like to thank you for your leadership. I mean, from a European perspective, to have a President in U.S. who is committed to the transatlantic alliance has always been extremely important.

But I mean, nowadays, when war has returned to our continent, in Europe, it is so important that our allies and our friends, that we stick together and that we are united. And we have truly been for now 15 months, in Ukraine. We will, of course, continue, from a Danish perspective, our very strong support to Ukraine, but I'm looking forward to work even closer with you on defense and security.

I would also like to thank you for your leadership on the green transition. I mean, you have brought U.S. back to the fight against climate change, and you are doing it in a very interesting way because you don'tâyou have high ambitions when it comes to climate change, but at the same time, you insist on making sure that Americans will have a job because of this. So sustainable growth is so important.

So thanks for your leadership, and thanks for welcoming us today. *President Biden. *Well, I'm delighted to have you here. Thank you. Thank you all.

[*At this point, several reporters began speaking at once.*]

Q. Will the counteroffensive work? [The President crossed his fingers.]

NOTE: The President spoke at 1:45 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to his granddaughters Naomi K., Finnegan J., Roberta M., and Natalie P. Biden.

Categories: Meetings With Foreign Leaders and International Officials : Denmark, Prime Minister Frederiksen.

Locations: Washington, DC.

Names: Biden, Finnegan J.; Biden, Naomi K.; Biden, Natalie P.; Biden, Roberta M. "Maisy"; Frederiksen, Mette.

Subjects: Climate change; Denmark, Prime Minister; Denmark, relations with U.S.; Denmark, security cooperation with U.S.; Economic improvement; North Atlantic Treaty Organization; Russia, conflict in Ukraine; Ukraine, Russian invasion and airstrikes.

DCPD Number: DCPD202300497.