Both President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were in Mexico City on this date in 2023 for the North American Leaders’ Summit. While attending the gathering, the two leaders also held bilaterial discussions. You can read the White House readout of the meeting below.
“President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada in Mexico City on the margins of the North American Leaders’ Summit to discuss joint efforts to drive economic competitiveness and inclusive growth, meet ambitious climate commitments, strengthen cooperation on security and defense, and address regional and global challenges, including Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine, instability in Haiti, and irregular migration and forced displacement throughout the region.
President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau discussed the generational opportunity to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals, electric vehicles, and semiconductors and to unleash the full economic potential of our shared continent. The two leaders discussed their commitments to take bold action to combat climate change and transform North America into a clean energy powerhouse. President Biden recognized Prime Minister Trudeau for taking decisive steps to promote global energy security.
As leading democracies and NATO Allies, President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau discussed defense and security cooperation to meet 21st century challenges, promote collective security and prosperity, and uphold a rules-based international system. They reaffirmed their commitment to stand up for our shared values around the world, including supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia’s brutal aggression. President Biden thanked Prime Minister Trudeau for Canada’s partnership in providing security, economic, and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine. The two leaders discussed the importance of ensuring the continued defense and security of North America through support for the binational North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau also discussed the security and humanitarian situation in Haiti. The leaders highlighted recent coordinated actions to provide assistance to the people of Haiti and hold those fomenting violence accountable, including through sanctions. The two leaders committed to continue coordination with partners on the UN Security Council on next steps to support stability to Haiti, including support to the Haitian National Police.
Both leaders also underscored the importance of continued collaboration on migration issues, particularly in expanding legal pathways and increasing refugee resettlement — centerpieces of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection.
President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the U.S.-Canada partnership to promote human rights and defend democratic values, including through steadfast support for democratic institutions in Brazil following the unrest over the weekend.
During the meeting, the President also stated he looks forward to traveling to Canada in March of this year.”
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.