President Biden had a tense conversation with a reporter when asked about the economic relationship between Russia and China, arguing that their partnership is “massively exaggerated.”
Biden held a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on Friday. A reporter asked Biden what he thought the significance of the Russia-China alliance was.
“In ten years, Russia and China have had 40 meetings, 40 encounters,” Biden began. “And I disagree with the premise of your question.”
“Tell me rhetorically how you actually see a circumstance where China has made a major commitment to Russia and what commitment can they make? Economically, economically,” the president continued.
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U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa, Canada, on March 24, 2023. (Andrey Ivanov/AFP via Getty Images)
“Their trade has increased, sir,” the reporter replied.
“Their trade has increased compared to what? Look, look, I don’t take China lightly. I don’t take Russia lightly. But I think we’re exaggerating massively,” Biden claimed.
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“I’ve been hearing for the past three months now about ‘China is going to supply Russia with significant weapons and they’re going to do that’ – there’s been a lot of talk about that,” the president continued. “They haven’t done that yet. That’s not to say they won’t, but they haven’t yet.’
US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrive for a joint press conference at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa, Canada, on March 24, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)
Biden’s remarks were made days after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Moscow to discuss their partnership.
“We hope that the strategic partnership between China and Russia will uphold international fairness and justice on the one hand and promote the common prosperity and development of our countries on the other,” Xi said at a joint press conference on Monday.
The two leaders signed an agreement on Tuesday to expand their economic ties, including the construction of a gas pipeline from Siberia to China.
President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands before a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Monday, March 20. (AP/Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)
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Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for a statement, but has not heard back.