On Monday, US President Joe Biden made a visit to Britain, his country’s significant ally, where he is scheduled to engage in high-level discussions with King Charles III and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, before making his way to a NATO summit in Lithuania.
Prior to his trip to the Britian, it was announced by the White House that Biden’s intention was to “further strengthen the close relationship” with the UK.
Biden will be hosted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle, a royal domicile located west of London, for a discussion primarily focusing on environmental matters, an issue of great significance to Charles.
This will mark their initial meeting since the King’s coronation in early May.
While Biden was absent from the coronation, with First Lady Jill Biden representing him, both the Bidens did attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September.
Before his meeting with the King, Biden has a session with pm Sunak, marking their fifth interaction in the recent past.
The president’s visit was characterized by Downing Street as a reflection of the “strong relationship” between the US and the UK.
Last month, Sunak made a two-day visit to the US, during which the leaders addressed subjects like Ukraine, AI regulation, and post-Brexit relations.
A new economic partnership, the “Atlantic Declaration”, was mutually agreed upon during the visit. Biden remarked that there was “no closer ally” than the UK for the United States.
Despite this, Sunak returned without any progress on the UK’s aspirations for a post-Brexit trade agreement with the US.
Being vital allies of Ukraine, the issue of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is expected to dominate Monday’s discussions, especially since Biden has vowed to provide controversial cluster munitions to Kyiv.
This decision has evoked concerns from rights groups due to the potential hazards of unexploded bombs for civilians, and also unsettled US allies.
Biden acknowledged the decision as “very difficult”, given that Ukrainian forces counteracting the Russian invasion were “running out of ammunition”.
With over 120 countries having signed a treaty prohibiting the production, storage, sale, and use of cluster bombs, Sunak emphasized Britain’s adherence to the agreement on Saturday.
Nevertheless, Sunak maintained that the UK, which has provided Kyiv with heavy battle tanks and long-range weapons, will persist in its support of Ukraine.
According to Amanda Sloat, National Security Council senior director for Europe, the discussions will serve as an opportunity for Biden and Sunak to “compare notes” on Ukraine prior to a meeting with other NATO leaders in Lithuania.
A summit is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, where Ukraine seeks explicit support for its potential membership in the US-led NATO.
Following the Lithuanian summit, Biden will head to Finland, the latest member of NATO, for a US-Nordic Leaders Summit.
Biden’s conversation with Sunak might also include Northern Ireland, as it is “certainly an issue that the president regularly talks about with his British counterpart”, according to Sloat.
In April, Biden made a short trip to Northern Ireland to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which terminated 30 years of conflict in the UK province, thanks to US mediation.
Biden, who takes pride in his Irish heritage, has expressed criticism towards the UK’s approach to post-Brexit trade regulations in Northern Ireland, cautioning that it could risk the hard-won peace.
