The new US administration informed Kabul of its desire to review the peace agreement with the "Taliban"

"Covid-19" and immigration are at the top of the Biden talks in the first presidential call

Biden called Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador after speaking with Trudeau.

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In his first phone call with a leader of a foreign country since assuming his presidential duties, US President Joe Biden spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on a number of issues, including the Corona pandemic and the immigration issue, while his administration informed the Afghan authorities Its desire to review the peace agreement signed between Washington and the Taliban.

In detail, Biden, during his first presidential call, laid down plans to continue consultations with the Canadian Prime Minister, next month.

During the conversation, which Ottawa said lasted about 30 minutes, Trudeau and Biden discussed all issues, from the "Covid-19" epidemic, which led to the closure of the borders between the two countries, to measures to protect the environment.

For his part, the Mexican President, Andres Manuel Obrador, also confirmed in a tweet on “Twitter” that he discussed with the US President a series of issues ... from Corona to immigration.

Trudeau's office said, in a statement, that the new US president and Canadian prime minister agreed that "they will meet next month in order to advance the important work of renewing the deep and lasting friendship between Canada and the United States."

But the White House merely pointed out, in a statement, that "the two leaders agreed to speak again within a month, to continue strengthening their bilateral cooperation."

Washington or Ottawa did not specify any date for the meeting or contact.

And this call, which is Biden's first telephone conversation with a foreign leader, "reflects the strategic importance of the relationship between the United States and Canada," according to the White House.

Trudeau and Biden discussed the main issue of the dispute between the two countries, which is the new US president’s decision to cancel an important oil pipeline project to Canada.

"The Canadian prime minister has expressed Canada's disappointment with the United States’ decision on the Keystone XL project, "Trudeau's office said.

He added that the Canadian Prime Minister "emphasized the important benefits provided by the bilateral relationship in the field of energy in terms of economy and energy security."

On the other hand, the White House spokesperson, Jane Sacchi, said that Biden had contacted the Mexican President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, after talking with Trudeau.

And the Mexican president wrote, in a tweet on "Twitter", that his conversation with Biden took place in "an atmosphere of friendliness and respect."

"We talked about issues related to immigration and (Covid-19), and cooperation in development and welfare," said Lopez Obrador, stressing that "everything indicates that relations will be good for the well-being of our peoples and countries."

The three countries are linked to the United States - Mexico - Canada agreement, which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which brings together about half a billion consumers in a unified market that constitutes about 27% of global GDP, in an area of ​​value Trade in it was $ 1.2 trillion in 2019, before the Covid-19 epidemic.

Trudeau indicated that the new US administration represents an opportunity to turn the page on the difficult relationship that brought the two countries together during the era of former President Donald Trump.

On the other hand, the government of the new US president informed the Afghan authorities of its desire to review the agreement, signed on February 20, between Washington and the Taliban movement, especially with the aim of "evaluating" the movement's respect for their pledges.

Emily Horne, a spokeswoman for US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, said in a statement that Sullivan called his Afghan counterpart Hamdallah Majestic and “clearly informed him” of his intention to “review” the agreement.

She added that Sullivan asked Majestic, in particular, to "assess whether the Taliban are fulfilling their obligations to sever ties with terrorist groups, reduce violence in Afghanistan, and enter into meaningful negotiations with the Afghan government and other partners."

Sullivan expressed "the desire of the United States for all Afghan leaders to seize this historic opportunity for peace and stability."

The Sullivan spokeswoman's comments raised the satisfaction of the Afghan authorities, who are awaiting, with concern, the position that the Biden administration will take on the agreement.

For its part, the US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) announced that Afghanistan was at the center of the first telephone conversation between the new US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, and the Secretary-General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, without giving further details.

On January 15, the administration of former President Donald Trump announced reducing the number of the US military in Afghanistan to 2,500.

Biden held a half-hour telephone conversation with the Canadian Prime Minister.

• The Mexican President: My conversation with Biden took place in an "atmosphere of friendliness and respect."

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