U.S. President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Monday spoke with world leaders, including President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, the second African leader after his call with President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa two weeks ago.
Biden also spoke with President Carlos Alvarado of Costa Rica, President Alberto Fernández of Argentina, and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
“The president-elect offered his gratitude for President Kenyatta’s congratulations and expressed his appreciation for the strong and lasting ties between our two countries. He conveyed his interest in building on that partnership across a range of issues, including by tackling the threat of climate change, supporting refugees and their host communities, and addressing challenges of regional security and instability,” the Biden office said of his call with Kenyatta.
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President-elect Biden also pledged to work closely with Argentina to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and advance global health security, including through strengthening hemispheric institutions.
In addition, he emphasized the need for even deeper hemispheric cooperation on advancing economic prosperity, combating climate change, strengthening democracy, and managing regional migration flows, among other shared challenges.
“The president-elect also acknowledged the significance of His Holiness Pope Francis to the people of Argentina and Latin America,” said the readout of Biden’s call with President Alberto Fernández of Argentina
In his call with President Carlos Alvarado of Costa Rica, the president-elect expressed his appreciation for Costa Rica’s leadership on human rights, regional migration, COVID-19, and the threat of climate change.
He underscored his concern for the people of Central America as they seek to rebuild from recent hurricanes and the challenges associated with climate migration.
“The president-elect pledged to deepen the U.S.-Costa Rica partnership based on shared democratic values, while also advancing a shared vision for regional prosperity and more effective hemispheric institutions,” said the readout of the call.
Biden and the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres discussed the need for a strengthened partnership between the United States and the United Nations on urgent global issues, including combatting COVID-19 and building resilience to future public health challenges; confronting the threat of climate change; addressing humanitarian need; advancing sustainable development; upholding peace and security and resolving conflicts; and promoting democracy and human rights.
The president-elect also noted his deep concern for escalating violence in Ethiopia and the risk it poses to civilians.
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