US President Joe Biden met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London on Monday as he prepared to attend a summit of NATO leaders, where Ukraine is expected to push to join the Alliance. The meeting lasted about 40 minutes. You will also meet King Carlos III.
“I could not find a closer friend and a greater ally,” said the Democrat, in brief remarks made at the beginning.
Biden and Sunak have been meeting regularly in recent months as the UK leader tries to mend transatlantic ties strained by the turbulent tenures of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Irish-American Biden’s stance on the UK’s disputes with the European Union over post-Brexit trade in Northern Ireland has been seen as the crux of tensions, but relations have improved since Sunak and Brussels reached a deal. Agreement on the movement of goods, protecting a hard -won peace after 30 years of violence under British rule in the province.
As the summit approaches, signs of divergence have emerged, particularly over Washington’s supply of cluster munitions to Ukraine. A concern that has echoes in other Western allies.
Biden said the decision to send the weapons was “very difficult” but that Ukrainian forces were conducting a counteroffensive. Sunak did not directly criticize the US, but stressed that the UK is one of 120 signatories to an international agreement banning the use and supply of cluster munitions.
“We will continue to do our part to support Ukraine against Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion. We are two of NATO’s most faithful allies and I know we want to do everything in our power to strengthen Euro-Atlantic security,” Rishi Sunak said.
In the afternoon, the US president will have tea with Charles III at the royal residence of Windsor Castle, west of London. The two heads of state are expected to talk mainly about the environment, according to the White House, namely the conclusions of a forum on climate finance in developing countries.
After London and the NATO summit in Vilnius on Tuesday and Wednesday, Joe Biden will travel to Finland to meet with the Nordic leaders.
Source: TSF
