What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
December 18, 2024 Recap
The United States and India have made significant strides in space cooperation, underscored by a visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, by U.S. Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, and Indian Ambassador to the U.S. Vinay Kwatra. This collaboration builds on commitments President Biden and Prime Minister Modi made in June 2023 to deepen ties across civil, security, and commercial space sectors under the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). Key developments include the selection of two ISRO astronauts to train at NASA’s Johnson Space Center for the first-ever joint mission to the International Space Station, with Axiom Space serving as the mission provider. Scheduled for launch as early as spring 2025, this mission marks a significant milestone in bilateral space exploration efforts.
The two nations also celebrated the completion of a Strategic Framework for Human Spaceflight Cooperation to enhance interoperability and charted plans for a new arrangement on advanced astronaut training. Additionally, the upcoming launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite in early 2025 promises to address global challenges by mapping Earth’s surface and predicting hazards. Furthering innovation, the U.S. and India are exploring the creation of a space innovation bridge to foster partnerships between startups focused on space situational awareness, satellite technology, and exploration.
On the defense front, the partnership has been bolstered by India’s participation in U.S. Space Command exercises, joint challenges under the INDUS-X framework, and dialogues aimed at enhancing space situational awareness. The two countries are also reviewing missile technology export policies to enable bilateral industry partnerships in space launch technologies, including commercial satellite launches. These efforts collectively highlight a deepening U.S.-India partnership, reflecting shared goals in advancing space exploration, fostering technological innovation, and strengthening the growing space economy.
President Biden has submitted the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to the U.S. Senate, requesting its advice and consent for ratification. The Agreement aims to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), commonly called the high seas, which face significant environmental threats. Covering two-thirds of the global ocean, these areas lie beyond countries' exclusive economic zones and are critical to global biodiversity.
The Agreement includes several key provisions. It establishes a mechanism for creating marine protected areas in ABNJ, supporting the global goal of conserving or protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030. It ensures the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from marine genetic resources in these regions and requires rigorous environmental impact assessments for activities conducted there. Additionally, the Agreement promotes capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology to enhance conservation and sustainable use efforts. It emphasizes collaboration with existing international organizations to maintain coordination and avoid undermining their competencies.
President Biden believes that the United States should join the Agreement. He urges the Senate to give it prompt and favorable consideration, emphasizing its importance in protecting ocean ecosystems, ensuring sustainable resource use, and conserving marine biodiversity for future generations.
In a conversation with Ian Bremmer, APNSA Jake Sullivan discussed critical global security challenges and the state of U.S. foreign policy. He began by addressing the dynamic situation in the Middle East, emphasizing both opportunities and risks following major regional shifts, such as Iran's weakening position and the fall of Assad in Syria. Sullivan highlighted the importance of careful management during these transitions, particularly amid the U.S. presidential transition, underscoring the need for continuity between administrations. Regarding Israel and Gaza, he stressed the dual responsibility of supporting Israel's security while ensuring humanitarian aid reaches civilians. He advocated long-term solutions integrating military efforts with political strategies to stabilize the region and prevent future conflict.
Concerning U.S.-China relations, Sullivan described an evolving dynamic of "managed competition." While China faces economic challenges that have shifted its timelines, its strategic ambitions remain intact. Sullivan emphasized the need to balance competition and collaboration on shared global challenges like climate change and nuclear risk reduction. Turning to Russia and Ukraine, he reiterated the importance of continued U.S. support for Ukraine’s defense to bolster its negotiating position. He acknowledged Russia's significant economic and military challenges while stressing that Ukraine's needs and decisions must drive a just peace.
Sullivan also discussed technology's pivotal role in national security. He lauded the U.S.'s leadership in artificial intelligence and innovation while highlighting the need for regulatory balance to maintain a competitive ecosystem and address risks associated with platforms like TikTok. He reflected on the Biden administration's focus on industrial policy, reshoring manufacturing, and supply chain resilience as part of a "foreign policy for the middle class." While these efforts are in their early stages, Sullivan argued they have laid the groundwork for long-term economic and security benefits.
In conclusion, Sullivan expressed optimism about the U.S.'s strong alliances, technological leadership, and ability to navigate global turbulence. He emphasized the importance of adaptability, strong partnerships, and maintaining the United States’ competitive edge to meet the challenges of an unpredictable and turbulent geopolitical landscape.
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized Republicans for threatening a government shutdown, accusing them of reneging on a bipartisan agreement. She stated that President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Vance allegedly directed this political maneuvering. Jean-Pierre emphasized that the shutdown would have caused significant harm to hardworking Americans, including disrupting disaster recovery efforts, negatively impacting farmers, ranchers, and community health centers, and endangering essential services such as Social Security and veteran benefits. She also highlighted that families gathering to meet loved ones would have faced unnecessary challenges. By failing to uphold their agreement, Republicans, she argued, risked creating instability and hardship across the country. Jean-Pierre stressed that "a deal is a deal" and called on Republicans to honor their commitment.
The Biden-Harris Administration hosted the first-ever White House Sustainable Freight Workshop, bringing together nearly 100 public and private stakeholders to discuss reducing emissions in the freight sector while preserving its economic vitality. This initiative is part of the Administration’s commitment to developing a national zero-emissions freight strategy. The freight sector, responsible for moving over 20 billion tons of goods valued at $18 trillion annually, is also a leading source of pollution in the United States. It contributes over 50% of NOx emissions, more than 30% of volatile organic compound emissions, and over 20% of particulate matter, disproportionately impacting communities of color and low-income families. The Administration's efforts align with its broader goal of addressing these challenges and transitioning the freight system toward a cleaner future.
Key announcements at the workshop included the Sustainable Freight Partners Group launch by the Electrification Coalition, aimed at coordinating low- to zero-emission freight solutions across maritime, rail, and trucking industries. The Department of Energy and its partners introduced specific action plans, including scaling low- and zero-emission fuels for marine vessels, designing a low-emission rail network, and deploying infrastructure for battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell trucks under the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy. Additionally, a Zero Emissions Freight Map highlighted over 700 projects valued at $12.8 billion, demonstrating a strong commitment from the private and public sectors. Notably, 65% of investments came from non-federal sources, underscoring robust collaboration across sectors.
The Administration has supported these efforts through significant investments, such as $3 billion for the Clean Ports Program, $735 million for the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Program, and $2.4 billion for rail infrastructure grants. These programs complement the 2023 National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization and upcoming 2024 strategies for zero-emission freight corridors. Public engagement was also emphasized through a social media campaign, #RouteZeroWeek, celebrating clean transportation initiatives and highlighting the billions of dollars in public and private investments.
The workshop included various participants, including federal agencies, private companies like Tesla and Volvo Trucks, environmental justice organizations, and industry groups. This collaborative and holistic approach reflects the Administration’s dedication to advancing environmental justice, reducing freight sector emissions, and driving sustainable innovation while ensuring the continued economic vitality of the transportation system.
Doing the hard work behind the scenes, under the radar, to move America forward- good news!