Joe Biden visits Britain ahead of NATO summit
Biden was in Britain on Monday for a brief visit to his key ally during which he will meet King Charles III and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before going on to a NATO summit in Lithuania. Ahead of the visit, the White House said Biden would seek to «further strengthen the close relationship» with Britain. The king will host Biden at Windsor Castle, a royal residence west of London, where they are due to discuss climate issues, long a subject close to Charles' heart.
It will be their first meeting since the monarch's coronation in early May. The president did not attend, sending First Lady Jill Biden instead, but the Bidens were at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September. Earlier in the day, Biden will meet Sunak for their fifth meeting in recent months.Downing Street has said the president's visit «reflects the strong relationship» between the two countries.
Sunak travelled to the United States last month for a two-day visit where the leaders discussed Ukraine, AI regulation and post-Brexit ties. They also agreed to a new economic partnership, the «Atlantic Declaration». Biden said the United States has «no closer ally» than Britain.
But Sunak came away empty-handed on the UK's ambitions for a post-Brexit free-trade agreement with Washington. The two countries are key allies of Ukraine and Russia's invasion of its pro-Western neighbour is likely to top the agenda on Monday, after Biden pledged to supply Kyiv with controversial cluster munitions. — 'Compare notes' on Ukraine — The move raised concerns from rights groups due to the danger unexploded bomblets pose to the civilian population and caused unease among US allies.
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