Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was virtually welcomed to the White House by U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday through a huge monitor as the two leaders discussed climate change, COVID-19, and discrimination.
What Went Digitally Wrong?
During the virtual meeting, analysts noticed several awkward displays in the video presentation of the meet-up.
In YouTube videos that were live streamed by news agencies, Biden and Trudeau appeared side by side in the display. However, Trudeau appeared to be looking away from the U.S. President, probably due to the monitor on his end placed in a different direction.
During Biden's closing remarks, Trudeau appeared to be much larger-than-life as he listened to Biden's speech through a giant monitor.
Despite some of the digital difficulties that took place during the meeting, analysts said it appeared that the two leaders had "warm" conversations.
Trudeau Nods to Biden Administration's Climate Change Commitment
Biden has made it clear since his presidential campaign that he will work on the U.S. becoming a symbol of commitment to climate change, and Trudeau couldn't agree more.
Trudeau said that "it's nice when the Americans are not pulling out all the references to climate change and instead adding them in." He also heaped praise on Biden's move of re-joining the Paris climate accord that former President Donald Trump walked out on.
Trudeau said that "U.S. leadership has been sorely missed" during the years that the United States was not a member of the accord.
The two countries are expected to work on aligning climate-related goals that should help achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
On the Controversial Keystone XL Pipeline
News outlets that covered Biden's first bilateral meeting with a world leader revealed that the much-debated Keystone XL oil pipeline was not mentioned by both leaders after the meeting.
The Keystone XL pipeline's construction permit was revoked by Biden on his first day as U.S. President. Last month, Trudeau admitted that he was "disappointed" over Biden's move.
The $8 billion project was supposed to carry oil sands crude from Alberta to the American Gulf Coast. However, much talk has emerged from the construction as questions emerged regarding the project's role in greenhouse gas emissions.
Thousands of jobs from both sides of the border have been cut off by the Biden administration's move, but climate advocates said it was necessary to prevent increased emissions that contribute to climate change.
On China and Detention of 'Two Michaels'
A major topic that the two leaders discussed during the virtual meeting was the detention of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig in China since 2018.
The two were accused of spying and since their arrest have been in jail. They were formally indicted in mid-2020.
"Human beings are not bartering chips," Biden said of the matter. He added that the U.S. will work with Canada to bring home the detained Canadians.
Canada has alleged that the arrest of Spavor and Kovrig were done as a reprisal for Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou's arrest in Vancouver, who was taken into custody nine days earlier.
