Newsman: The US President Joe Biden trumpeted a “rock solid” relationship with the United Kingdom as he met with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at his official residence and office at No. 10 Downing Street on Monday.
This was Biden’s first visit to No. 10 as president and took place as he makes his way to a NATO summit in Lithuania. Biden will also meeting privately with King Charles III at Windsor Castle on Monday afternoon. After Biden’s meeting with King Charles III at Windsor Castle, they will attend a meeting with business leaders and U.S. Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry where the White House says they will discuss clean energy initiatives and ways to mitigate the effects of climate change on developing countries adapt to the impacts of climate change.
“It’s good to be back,” Biden joked as he was greeted by Sunak.
“We’ve got a lot to talk about. I think we’re doing well. We’re moving along in a way that’s positive. But our relationship is rock solid,” he said.
Biden recounted all of the places he’s met with Sunak – from San Diego to Belfast to Hiroshima to Washington, six times in the six months since the prime minister took office.
“Couldn’t be meeting with a closer friend or greater ally. Got a lot to talk about,” Biden said.
He continued: “Our relationship is rock solid … And I look forward to our discussions.”
Sunak welcomed Biden, saying he is “very privileged and fortunate to have you here.”
He said they would be strengthening cooperation on joint economic security, as well as discussing the NATO alliance.
The two leaders were expected to discuss Russia’s war in Ukraine and it is their first meeting since the U.S. announced Friday it would send cluster munitions to Ukraine. Britain is one of 123 signatories to a convention that bans the weapon. The U.S., Ukraine and Russia are not. Sunak has said he “discourages” the use of the weapon.
“We head from here to NATO in Vilnius, where we stand as two of the firmest allies in that alliance and I know we want to do everything we can to strengthen Euro-Atlantic security. Great pleasure to have you here,” Sunak said.
The leaders ignored shouted questions, including one on his call with Turkish President Erdogan, as Biden admired a commemorative No.10 Downing Street mug.
Biden is making his fifth official visit to the UK as president. It it his sixth meeting with Sunak since the British politician became prime minister last year. Sunak and Biden also met last month in Washington.
