The particular relationship between the US and UK is solid on shared historical past, widespread values, and diplomatic ties which can be far deeper and enduring that anyone president or prime minister.
However there was little question that President Joe Biden appeared significantly happy to welcome the brand new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the Oval Workplace for his or her first bi-lateral assembly since he was elected chief lower than per week in the past.
As a result of, whereas President Biden was as heat in his pleasantries to the opposite two prime ministers I’ve seen sit within the chair within the Oval Workplace – Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak – Sir Keir is extra politically aligned to the US Democrats.
Not like his two predecessors, Sir Keir wasn’t a proponent of Brexit, a choice that had put some pressure on the particular relationship in recent times.
However President Biden opened the assembly signalling his backing of Sir Keir’s ambitions to take the UK again nearer to the European Union.
The US chief, who was a critic of Brexit and voiced his considerations concerning the fall-out of the choice on the peace course of on the island of Eire, advised media from the US and UK that he seen London because the “knot that ties the transatlantic alliance [NATO] together”.
“The closer you are with Europe. We know where you are, you know where we are,” he stated, to which Sir Keir replied: “Well that is absolutely right.”
So whereas Sir Keir leans extra into Europe, President Biden and allies are additionally completely happy that, relating to NATO and Ukraine, the brand new prime minister is presenting continuity from Mr Sunak.
He has recommitted to the £3bn funding bundle laid out by his predecessor and in addition got here to the NATO summit with an “iron-cast commitment” to elevate Britain’s spending on defence to 2.5% – though, in distinction to Mr Sunak, he hasn’t put a timeframe on when that shall be achieved.
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Within the read-out after the prime minister and president bi-lateral – which I hear went over time – the UK authorities stated the duo had “reflected on the importance of the NATO alliance and the special relationship in the context of current geopolitical challenges, including the ongoing war in Ukraine”.
They agreed each nations should proceed to do “whatever it takes to support Ukraine and ensure aggressors like Putin do not win”.
The UK authorities additionally stated the president had “welcomed the prime minister’s recent comments on establishing closer relationships with our European counterparts, as well as the UK’s commitment to AUKUS. They reflected that at a time when we face growing challenges across the world, we are at our strongest when we unite and work together”.
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Sir Keir has introduced Nick Thomas-Symonds, the cupboard minister accountable for EU relations, with him to this summit as he seems to be to speed up talks on forging nearer relations with EU leaders.
The brand new authorities has began the method of attempting to renegotiate Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal and can also be establishing a brand new EU safety pact.
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Mr Starmer and President Biden additionally joked about soccer, as they met shortly after England’s victory over the Netherlands to win a spot within the Euros finals.
Requested within the Oval Workplace if soccer’s coming dwelling? Sir Keir replied: “It looks like it”, whereas President Biden joked: “It’s because of the prime minister.”
Sir Keir, an Arsenal season ticket holder, will attend the ultimate in Germany on Sunday.
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