Leaders from 32 countries gathered in Washington for the 75th anniversary NATO summit, with all eyes on President Biden. With questions swirling about his mental and physical fitness to run for re-election, Biden will now be tested on a global level.
Foreign leaders at the NATO Summit are accompanied by their spouses. Along with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Mareva Grabovski also went to Washington. Many other First Ladies, wives of Presidents, and Prime Ministers from around the world were also in Washington. Among them were two First Gentlemen, from Denmark and Estonia, while several leaders attended on their own, as the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni chose to do.
Charles Michel with his wife Amelie
Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Mareva
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and his wife Anique
However, one key aspect of the summit is that all eyes will be on the overall appearance and presence of the American president, Joe Biden, who has sparked a storm of reactions about whether he is capable of completing his current term, let alone running for another one.
Czech President Petr Pavel and his wife Eva
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and her husband Bo Tengberg
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and her husband Arvo Halik
At stake is not just Biden’s presidency but, potentially, the future of the transatlantic alliance that has kept much of the world relatively peaceful for more than half a century, as his presidential rival Donald Trump has playfully rejected the importance of NATO, while he has shown admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and his wife Suzanne Ines Stubb
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz with his wife Britta Ernst
Icelandic Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson and his wife
Officially opening the summit Tuesday night on a stage decorated with the flags of 32 countries and heralded by military buglers, Biden appeared to be in relatively good shape. “Our friends, we are stronger than ever,” Biden said, announcing what he called a “historic donation” of air defense systems to Ukraine.
The President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda with his wife Diana
Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden and his wife Marjoline
Polish President Andrzej Duda and his wife Agata
Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and his wife Carla
“The fact that NATO remains the bulwark of global security did not happen by accident,” he said. “Time and time again we have chosen unity,” the American president emphasized.
Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob and his wife Jana
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and his wife Birgitta
Tayyip Erdoğan with his wife Emine