US President Joe Biden on Friday expressed his thanks to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for the latter’s support to Ukraine after the start of the war in February of last year, and for strengthening military relations between Madrid and Washington.
“I cannot thank you enough for your great support of Ukraine,” the US president said to Sanchez at the White House before their bilateral talks, which also touched on trade and immigration issues.
The US President also thanked his guest for allowing the United States to strengthen its military presence in Spain, as the US Navy increased the number of its warships at the Rota Naval Base from four to six destroyers.
“We both face immigration challenges in the Western Hemisphere,” Biden, whose country has made changes to procedures for migrants crossing from Mexico, added.
The United States, Spain and Canada pledged to cooperate on this issue, which is essential for the American president.
Biden had warned of chaos on the border between the United States and Mexico, which more than 10,000 immigrants crossed recently, before the lifting of Covid restrictions that allowed officials to deport immigrants and not receive their asylum applications.
“Your commitment to democracy is an example to all,” the Spanish leader told Biden, adding that the United States and Spain were “allies and friends.”
Sanchez pointed out that Spain is preparing to assume the presidency of the European Union, and among its objectives is to strengthen cooperation with Latin America.
