On May 6, Vice President Joe Biden addressed the European Parliament in Brussels in which he encouraged the EU to support Washington’s global agenda and approach to threats such as climate change and terrorism. The Vice President spoke of how the United States and Europe share a partnership. He said Europe continues to be the United States ‘most important ally’ and trading partner, and rehashed the U.S. role in helping rebuild Europe after World War II. However, during the speech, Biden made quite the head-turning statement in praising Europe. He stated that despite what some American journalists or politicians say, he would argue that Brussels, not Washington, DC or the United States, could be considered the “capital of the free world.” (h/t Cubachi)
“As you probably know, some American politicians and American journalists refer to Washington, DC as the “capital of the free world.” But it seems to me that this great city, which boasts 1,000 years of history and which serves as the capital of Belgium, the home of the European Union, and the headquarters for NATO, this city has its own legitimate claim to that title.”