Joe Biden: Jacinda Ardern has ‘critical’ role on climate, gun control, Pacific

Joe Biden has told Jacinda Ardern he wants to work with her over gun control, but stressed the importance of cooperation in the Pacific.

US President Joe Biden meets with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the Oval Office. Picture: AFP.

Joe Biden has praised NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for the “critical role” she has taken on global issues such as climate change and told her he wanted to work with her over gun control.

But in a 90 minute meeting at the White House, the US President also emphasised the US and New Zealand must work together in the Pacific as China seeks to increase its influence.

The Oval Office meeting, which took place early this morning (AEST), was their first in person meet since Mr Biden took office last year.

The talks, which took place at the end of a coast to coast trip across America which Ms Ardern is using to boost NZ trade and tourism, covered the war in Ukraine, gun control, trade and climate change as well as the Pacific region.

“It’s good to see not so old, but a good friend here, and prime minister, welcome to the White House,” Mr Biden said.

“It’s pleasure to see (you) in person, you understand that your leadership has taken on a critical role in this global stage. And it really has.

“Galvanising action on climate change and global economic climate, violence, extremism online like happened at Christchurch call and, you know, I want to work with you on that effort,” he said.

But Mr Biden emphasised the importance of co-operation in the Pacific, where China is continuing to pursue economic and security deals despite its failure to get Pacific Island nations to sign a proposed regional trade and security agreement this week.

While Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong met regional leaders in Fiji last week, NZ’s foreign minister Nanaia Mahuta has come under fire for her near invisibility in the Pacific.

“I want to emphasise … working together, we are not coming to dictate or lay down the law. We have more work to do in those Pacific Islands,” Mr Biden told Ms Ardern.

Ms Ardern, whose visit was overshadowed by the massacre in Uvalde, Texas, offered her condolences over the tragedy in which 19 children and two teachers were killed. However she was careful not to overstate NZ’s success in gun control in the wake of the 2019 Christchurch massacre.

Less than a month after the massacre, NZ’s parliament introduced a nationwide ban on semiautomatic weapons and assault rifles. The following month, Ms Ardern and French President, Emmanuel Macron brought together heads of state and government and leaders from the tech sector to adopt the Christchurch Call – a commitment to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.

“Our experience of course in this regard is our own but if there’s anything that we can share that would be of any value, we are here to share it,” she said.

Mr Biden told her: “I’ve been to more mass shooting aftermaths than I think any president in American history, unfortunately.

“Much of it is preventable and the devastation is amazing.”

He added: “The work you’re doing with tech companies is really important and I want to work with you there as well.”

After the 90 minute meeting – which ran half an hour overtime – Ms Ardern said in a statement: “New Zealand’s relationship with the United States is one of our most enduring and significant. Today we reaffirmed this very, very close relationship and our commitment to work together on a number of challenges our region and the world are facing.

“The meeting with President Biden came at a critical moment. We recommitted to working together, and alongside others, in the pursuit of peace and stability, and in defence of the international rules-based order”.

The NZ Prime Minister’s meeting with Mr Biden was in doubt almost to the last minute after she tested positive for Covid just two weeks before the planned trip and three officials with her on the trip also tested positive.

Ms Ardern also met Vice-President Kamala Harris, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Indo-Pacific National Security adviser Kurt Campbell.