President Biden said Sunday that the U.S. has the capacity to support both Israel and Ukraine as he prepares to push a new weapons package for both countries that will exceed $2 billion.
Appearing on CBS’s venerable “60 Minutes” news program, Mr. Biden said the U.S. doesn’t have to choose between supporting either nation and in fact has an obligation to provide both with aid.
“We’re the United States of America, for God’s sake. The most powerful nation in the history of the world. We can take care of both of these and still maintain our overall international defense,” Mr. Biden said.
“We have the capacity to do this and have an obligation to do this. We are the essential nation,” he continued. “If we don’t, who does?”
Mr. Biden’s comments come after White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the Biden administration is seeking a new weapons package for Israel and Ukraine that will be higher than $2 billion.
However, Republicans’ struggles to elect a House speaker has delayed any action on passing a weapons package for both countries. The feud in Congress comes as Israel prepares a ground war against Hamas amid fears the crisis could engulf the Middle East.
Mr. Biden has been considering lumping together aid for Israel, Ukraine, possibly Taiwan, and the U.S. southern border to increase the chances of it passing Congress.
Some Republicans have been pressing Mr. Biden to cut back on the money sent to Ukraine.
Earlier Sunday, Mr. Sullivan told CBS’s “Face the Nation” that the aid package will be larger than $2 billion.
“The number is going to be significantly higher than that, but it will, as I said, certainly include the necessary military equipment to defend freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity in Ukraine, and to help Israel defend itself as it fights its terrorist threat,” he said.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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