Biden meets King Charles and PM Sunak ahead of Nato summit
Published: 05:07 PM,Jul 10,2023 | EDITED : 09:07 PM,Jul 10,2023
WINDSOR: US President Joe Biden met Britain's King Charles on Monday to discuss how to tackle climate change after earlier dropping in to see Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and hail the 'rock-solid' friendship with a close ally.
Biden is in Britain at the start of a three-nation trip including the Nato summit in Lithuania, at which allies aim to show solidarity with Ukraine.
Both sides played down the president's meeting with Sunak, their fifth in as many months, describing it as a continuation of long-running discussions, though it was Biden's first visit to the prime minister's Downing Street office as president.
'Great for us to carry on our conversations,' Sunak told Biden as they sat in the Downing Street garden.
'We’ve got a lot to talk about,' Biden replied. 'Our relationship is rock-solid. Couldn’t be meeting with a closer friend and a greater ally. We've got a lot to talk about.'
After spending less than an hour at Sunak's office, Biden headed to Windsor Castle to meet the king, the higher-profile part of his short British trip.
Biden was expected to discuss climate change in Windsor, a cause on which Charles has campaigned for more than five decades.
The 74-year-old king greeted the 80-year-old president in the quadrangle of the castle, where he was given a guard of honour.
The men were due to have tea before discussing how to help boost private investment to combat climate change, a threat both leaders say is existential.
'The president has huge respect for the king's commitment on the climate issue in particular. He has been a clarion voice on this issue,' White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday.
Sunak and Biden were due to share notes before 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 now on Ukraine's campaign to join Nato whose mutual defence pact obliges all members to come to the aid of any member that is attacked.
'I don't think there is unanimity in Nato about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the Nato family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war,' Biden said in an interview.
His trip comes a few days after he agreed to send US cluster munitions to Ukraine. — Reuters
Biden is in Britain at the start of a three-nation trip including the Nato summit in Lithuania, at which allies aim to show solidarity with Ukraine.
Both sides played down the president's meeting with Sunak, their fifth in as many months, describing it as a continuation of long-running discussions, though it was Biden's first visit to the prime minister's Downing Street office as president.
'Great for us to carry on our conversations,' Sunak told Biden as they sat in the Downing Street garden.
'We’ve got a lot to talk about,' Biden replied. 'Our relationship is rock-solid. Couldn’t be meeting with a closer friend and a greater ally. We've got a lot to talk about.'
After spending less than an hour at Sunak's office, Biden headed to Windsor Castle to meet the king, the higher-profile part of his short British trip.
Biden was expected to discuss climate change in Windsor, a cause on which Charles has campaigned for more than five decades.
The 74-year-old king greeted the 80-year-old president in the quadrangle of the castle, where he was given a guard of honour.
The men were due to have tea before discussing how to help boost private investment to combat climate change, a threat both leaders say is existential.
'The president has huge respect for the king's commitment on the climate issue in particular. He has been a clarion voice on this issue,' White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday.
Sunak and Biden were due to share notes before 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 now on Ukraine's campaign to join Nato whose mutual defence pact obliges all members to come to the aid of any member that is attacked.
'I don't think there is unanimity in Nato about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the Nato family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war,' Biden said in an interview.
His trip comes a few days after he agreed to send US cluster munitions to Ukraine. — Reuters