WASHIINGTON, Jan 17 (AFP) - United States President Joe Biden and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte have concluded a meeting at the White House, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, protections of supply chains, and an upcoming Summit for Democracy – hosted by the two countries along with Costa Rica, South Korea and Zambia – topping the agenda.
The wide-ranging meeting on Tuesday was also planned as the US has sought to shore up allies’ support for restrictions that aim to limit China’s ability to access advanced computing chips, develop and maintain supercomputers, and make advanced semiconductors.
The Netherlands’ largest company is ASML Holding, a key supplier to semiconductor equipment makers. China has been a major client of the company.
In a statement following the meeting, the White House did not directly reference the issue, but said the two leaders discussed “the importance of secure supply chains and critical technologies to our national security and economic prosperity”.
In a series of tweets, Rutte also did not refer to discussions of export restrictions, instead focusing on the war in Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, as the two leaders sat in the Oval Office, Biden said Washington and Amsterdam were working together to “meet the challenges of China”.
Rutte, meanwhile, decried the Russian missile strike in Dnipro on Saturday that killed at least 40 people, while touting the about 2.5 billion euros ($2.7bn) Amsterdam has pledged in support of Urkaine this year. The money will be spent on military equipment, humanitarian and diplomatic efforts.
The Dutch leader also signalled his intention to follow Germany in providing US-made Patriot air-defence systems to Ukraine.
“We have the intention to join what you’re doing with Germany on the Patriots project, the air-defense system. I think that is important and we joined that,” Rutte said.