Joe Biden meets with Rishi Sunak and reaffirms the strong relationship of the United States with the United Kingdom

President Joe Biden reaffirmed on Monday the “solid” relationship between USA and the United Kingdom during a diplomatic stopover in LondonOn the way to the summit of the NATO in Lithuania which will analyse, among other issues, support for Ukraine.

Biden met for about 45 minutes with the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunakin Downing Streetin whose garden they had tea and talked among many topics about the Russian invasion of Ukrainetwo days after Washington promised to supply cluster bombs to kyiv.

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They are highly controversial weapons because, by dispersing small explosive charges before or after impact, they can cause numerous civilian collateral casualties, and they are prohibited in more than a hundred countriesincluding the United Kingdom.

“We have a lot to talk. I think we are doing well. We are moving forward positively. But our relationship is rock solid”, affirmed the US president, before moving to Windsorabout 40 km west of Londonto meet him King Carlos III.

The 74-year-old monarch received him outside the centenary castle where they carried out together a ceremonial weapons review of the royal honor guard.

Later, the American president held a meeting with the king focused on climate issues, including the conclusions of a forum on financing projects in developing countries.

A little less than two hours later, he left for Vilnius.

It was the first meeting of Biden with Charles III since he was crowned in May, during a pompous ceremony in the presence of dozens of heads of state that the US president did not attend.

Biden80 years old and very proud of his Irish roots, was then represented by his wife jill. This aroused controversy, but Washington insisted that his absence was not “a snub”, but rather followed the diplomatic line between the two countries: no American president has ever attended the coronation of a British sovereign.

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Trade negotiation and Ireland

The British government also stated that this visit “reflects the strong relationshipbetween both countries.

However, the conservative executive of Sunak continues to fail to achieve the long-awaited free trade agreement with USA What did you expect to get after Brexit -effective from 2021- to alleviate the loss of commercial advantages with the European Unionuntil then its main trading partner.

If their respective predecessors –Boris Johnson and Donald Trump– seemed determined to close it quickly, the arrival of the Democrat Biden to the White House in 2021 and their reluctance in the face of the possible negative consequences of the Brexit for the fragile peace agreement in North Ireland They put a certain brake on the negotiation.

The Northern Irish question may have figured in the conversation between Biden and Sunak. Is “a subject that the president regularly discusses with his British counterpart,” he claimed amanda sloatchief adviser to Biden for Europe.

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Ukraine and NATO enlargement

The meeting between Biden and Sunak should allow them to coordinate their positions before the summit with other leaders of the NATOTuesday and Wednesday in Lithuania.

Ukraine hopes to achieve there a “clear sign” that one day he will be able to join the Atlantic AllianceIn the words of its president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

But both he and Biden They accepted that this will not happen during the Russian invasion, which began in February 2022.

“we would be at war with Russia if that was the case“, he claimed Biden upon his arrival in London on Sunday night, recalling that according to the rules of the military alliance its members must intervene if one of them is attacked.

A Western official who requested anonymity nevertheless assured AFP on Monday that the NATO is willing to raise a major barrier to the entry of Ukraine in the alliance, the so-called Membership Action Plan, in recognition of their “progress”. However, the country will have to more reforms before its integrationaccurate.

for Zelenskythe protection of the Atlantic Alliance is crucial to deter Russia to launch new offensives, and claims that the organization led by USA establish a clear roadmap.

After Lithuania, Biden will travel to Finlandborder country with Russia who entered the NATO last April 4.

Source: Elcomercio

jack

I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.