Biden warns of ‘conflict and chaos’ spreading

“I know these conflicts can seem far away, and it’s natural to ask why does this matter to America,” Mr Biden said. “Hamas and Putin represent different threats. They share this in common: they both want to annihilate a neighbouring democracy.

“If we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraine’s independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same, and the risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world and the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East, especially in the Middle East.

“They’re watching our response,” he said.

The White House package will include around $US60 billion in funding for Ukraine over the next year, and more than $US14 billion in emergency assistance to Israel. The package, which will be unveiled on Friday, also includes additional funding for the Indo-Pacific region, which includes Taiwan, and for security measures for the US-Mexican border.

‘American leadership holds the world together’

Mr Biden hopes that combining all of these issues into one piece of legislation will create the necessary political coalition for congressional approval. “It is a smart investment that’s going to pay dividends for American security for generations,” Mr Biden said.

But the president faces a tough task in getting Congress to pass the funding requests. The Biden administration failed last month to get legislators’ approval for billions of dollars in Ukraine aid, amid opposition from hardline Republicans. Mr Biden has bipartisan support in Congress for financing Israel’s military needs, but public opinion remains mixed.

The request is also complicated by the failure of the House of Representatives to elect a new speaker following the ouster of Republican Kevin McCarthy. The House has been stuck in limbo, without the power to act on legislation, as Republicans, who control the chamber, fight over a replacement Speaker.

“I know we have our divisions at home. We have to get past them. We can’t let petty partisan angry politics get in the way of our responsibility as a great nation,” Mr Biden said.

“American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances will keep America safe. American values are what make our partners motivated to want to work with us. If we walk away from Ukraine, we turn our backs on Israel, it’s just not worth it.”

Mr Biden’s speech comes one day after he visited Israel to show his support for the country following the Hamas militant group’s unprecedented October 7 attacks that killed more than 1400 in the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

En route to Washington from Israel, Mr Biden salvaged an agreement on humanitarian aid for Hamas-controlled Gaza following Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes that have killed hundreds of Palestinians.

Mr Biden has already sent warships and their support ships to the eastern Mediterranean, and placed about 2000 Marines on standby, to deter other actors, such as the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, from entering the conflict amid fears it could escalate.

The US already agreed to provide $US38 billion in military aid to Israel from fiscal year 2019 through to 2028. However, that funding is subject to annual congressional appropriations, and this year’s annual appropriations have already been exhausted.