LONDON — President Biden met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Britain on Monday, making a short cease in London on the eve of a NATO summit the place leaders are anticipated to concentrate on supporting Ukraine towards the Russian invasion.
Mr. Biden arrived at 10 Downing Street on Monday morning, his first go to to the prime minister’s workplace as president, and was greeted with a heat handshake by Mr. Sunak.
“We’re very privileged and fortunate to have you here,” Mr. Sunak stated.
“It’s good to be back,” Mr. Biden stated. Mr. Biden and Mr. Sunak have met six instances within the final six months, however by no means at 10 Downing Street. The two males met for greater than 45 minutes within the constructing’s courtyard. “We’re moving along in a way that’s positive. But our relationship is rock solid.”
Jake Sullivan, Mr. Biden’s nationwide safety adviser, informed reporters on Air Force One on Sunday that the 2 leaders would “talk about progress in the war in Ukraine, and, of course, to talk about a range of other issues from China to climate to technology to artificial intelligence.”
Both males are scheduled to attend a two-day summit of NATO leaders starting on Tuesday in Vilnius, Lithuania. The United States and Britain are amongst Ukraine’s most stalwart supporters, however the two leaders have differed on the query of whether or not and the way rapidly Ukraine ought to be capable to be part of NATO.
Mr. Sunak stated final month that Ukraine’s “rightful place is in NATO,” though he has not known as for Ukraine to be given a “road map” to membership within the trans-Atlantic navy alliance.
Mr. Biden has been extra hesitant, and on Sunday he provided his most definitive assertion up to now that Ukraine was not prepared for membership, saying it was “premature” to start the method to permit Ukraine to hitch the alliance in the midst of a struggle.
The assembly additionally comes after Mr. Biden made what he known as the “very difficult decision” to ship cluster munitions to Ukraine, a transfer at odds with a number of of America’s closest allies. Britain was one of many nations that signed onto a conference prohibiting the sale or use of such weapons, that are recognized to trigger grievous damage to civilians. Mr. Sunak reiterated over the weekend that Britain “discourages” the usage of the munitions.
Mr. Sullivan stated this week that America’s allies didn’t oppose Mr. Biden’s resolution, and that Ukraine wanted the weapons to guard its residents.
In an interview aired on Sunday with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Mr. Biden stated that he didn’t “think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now,” and that the method might occur solely after a peace settlement with Russia was in place. Referring to the alliance’s dedication to mutual protection, Mr. Biden stated: “If the war is going on, then we’re all in war.”
He added that there could be “other qualifications that need to be met, including democratization,” for Ukraine to be thought of for membership.
Later on Monday, Mr. Biden is scheduled to fulfill with King Charles III at Windsor Castle, close to London, the place the 2 are anticipated to debate clean-energy funding and efforts to fight local weather change in creating nations. Those are points that Charles has been warning about for the reason that Nineteen Seventies and that Mr. Biden has made a central focus of his presidency.
Mr. Biden didn’t attend the coronation of Charles in May, which was attended by the primary girl, Jill Biden, and their granddaughter Finnegan. When he known as the king to ship his regrets and supply congratulations, Charles invited the president to go to Britain, setting the stage for the Monday assembly that American officers are calling a “mini-state visit.”
The logistics for Mr. Biden’s journey haven’t been with out some static. The White House initially questioned the necessity for a cease at 10 Downing Street with Mr. Sunak, in line with an official accustomed to the planning, for the reason that two males would meet on the NATO summit a day later. For Mr. Sunak, nevertheless, a handshake with the president in entrance of his residence is politically useful, and the White House finally agreed to it.
Katie Rogers and Mark Landler contributed reporting.
Source: www.nytimes.com