Biden Hosts NATO Leaders at White House Dinner

U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill welcomed NATO leaders and partners to a dinner at the White House on the sidelines of the military alliance's annual summit.

Biden, 81, who has for 13 days faced questions about his fitness for office after fumbling a June 27 debate, hopes the international event will help him stage a comeback of sorts, surrounded by allied leaders he has spent his three years in office cultivating.

During his speech, Biden applauded the organization's 75th anniversary and toasted to the "neighborhood of nations."

"75 years ago, when our nations created NATO, former president Truman said, and I quote, 'what we're about to do here is a neighborly act, a neighborly act'. The allies in this room not only share a common language, don't share a common language, we do not share a common border. But we are neighbors. We're neighbors. Because we all share common beliefs in dignity, equality, democracy and freedom," he added.

Meanwhile, NATO's Secretary General toasted to the "most successful, the strongest and the longest lasting alliance in history."

Also at a meeting, Germany and the United States announced the U.S. will start deploying longer range missiles in Germany in 2026, a major step aimed at countering what the allies say is a growing threat Russia poses to Europe.

During the summit, leaders announced more aid was headed to Ukraine as the allies bolster Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. A communique said the allies intend to provide Ukraine with at least $43.28 billion in military aid within the next year, but stopped short of the multi-year commitment NATO's Stoltenberg had sought.

The communique also says the alliance will continue to support Ukraine "on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership." That language had been a major point of contention among the allies.