Biden landed in London late Sunday To start a trip three countries including the NATO summit in Lithuania, at which the Allies are aiming for Showing solidarity with Ukraine against the Russian invasion while not yet accepting Kiev as a alliance member.
Both sides downplayed the president’s meeting With your age, their fifth in as many months, describing it as Long term persistence dShut up, thoughIR He was Biden’s first visit to British Prime Minister Downing Street office as president.
BEden is due to meet King Charles later on Monday, after skipping his coronation in May in line with longstanding practice for US presidents. They are expected to discuss climate change, an issue the King has long espoused.
“Great for us to continue our conversations,” Sunak told Biden as they sat in Downing Street Park.
Biden replied, “We have a lot to talk about.” “Our relationship is very solid.”
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said The two leaders will exchange notes ahead of the NATO summit in Lithuania, which kicks off on Tuesday and will be dominated by the Ukraine crisis.
Ahead of the trip, Biden urged caution for the time being about Ukraine’s campaign to join NATO, saying the alliance could be drawn into war with Russia because of NATO’s mutual defense pact.
“I don’t think there’s a consensus in NATO about whether or not to include Ukraine in the NATO family right now, at this moment, in the midst of war,” Biden said in an interview with CNN that aired Sunday.
cCoarse ammunition
Biden’s trip comes just days after he approved the transmission American cluster munitions to Ukraine.
Such munitions are banned by more than 100 countries, including the United Kingdom, vIt is displayed as a file A threat to the civilian population because they usually release large numbers of small bombs that can kill indiscriminately over a wide area.
Russia, Ukraine and the United States have not signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the production, stockpiling, use and transfer of the weapons.
“I think you find Prime Minister Sunak and President Biden on the same page strategically as far as Ukraine is concerned, stepping firmly on the bigger picture of what we’re trying to achieve, and united as ever,” Sullivan said on Sunday.
Asked about cluster munitions on Saturday, Sunak said Britain was one of the signatories to the agreement that discourages their use, and said it would continue to do its part to support Ukraine.
After meeting Sunak, The 80-year-old president Will travel to Windsor Castle to watch king ta Discuss how to help boost private investment to combat climate change, an existential threat both leaders say.
“The President greatly respects the King’s commitment on the climate issue in particular. He has been very vocal on this Case,” Sullivan Reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday.
Sullivan said Biden hopes to deepen his personal relationship with T.IHe is the British monarch. Biden has previously praised Charles for his leadership on climate issues.
The king’s office said the monarch will receive Biden in the castle grounds, where a guard of honor will give the royal salute and play the US national anthem.
BAiden and Charles — who don’t know each other well — had a phone conversation earlier this year that S.a lot It was described as “incredibly warm”. Biden attended the funeral of the king’s late mother, Queen Elizabeth, last year, and First Lady Jill Biden attended the coronation of the new monarch.
tThe meeting of the heir comes as Sunak did Face criticism on his commitment to environmental issues.
Written by Steve Holland and Gerhard May
(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper, Michael Holden, Gerhard May at Windsor and Garrett Renshaw; Editing by Leslie Adler, Mark Heinrichs, Peter Graf)