LONDON: US President Joe Biden held a meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Downing Street on Monday, as both leaders prepared for the upcoming NATO summit, where Ukraine’s potential membership in the alliance will be a significant topic of discussion once its conflict with Russia is resolved.
Arriving in his presidential limousine, known as “The Beast,” the 80-year-old President was greeted with a handshake by Prime Minister Sunak on the steps of Downing Street. Later at Windsor Castle, President Biden and King Charles engaged in discussions on how to bolster private investment to combat climate change, a pressing issue that both leaders consider to be of existential importance.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, emphasized President Biden’s high regard for King Charles’ commitment to climate action, referring to him as a “clarion voice” on the matter. Sullivan noted that Biden aims to strengthen his personal relationship with the King, highlighting a warm phone conversation they had earlier this year.
The meeting with King Charles took place in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle, where a guard of honor provided a Royal Salute, and the US national anthem was played, as announced by the King’s office. President Biden had previously met with the late Queen Elizabeth for tea at Windsor in 2021.
Prior to the meeting with King Charles, President Biden made a low-key visit to 10 Downing Street for a conversation with Prime Minister Sunak, marking their fifth meeting in as many months. Sullivan characterized the visit as a continuation of an ongoing conversation rather than a formal meeting. This visit also marked President Biden’s first visit to Downing Street since assuming office.
Discussions Over Upcoming NATO Summit
Sullivan stated that during their meeting, President Biden and Prime Minister Sunak would exchange insights ahead of the NATO summit in Lithuania, set to commence on Tuesday. The ongoing Ukraine crisis, which has brought NATO members closer together, is expected to dominate discussions during the summit.
In the lead-up to his trip, President Biden urged caution regarding Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO, expressing concerns that the alliance could be drawn into the ongoing conflict with Russia due to NATO’s mutual defense pact. In a CNN interview aired on Sunday, Biden highlighted the lack of unanimity within NATO on the timing of Ukraine’s potential accession, given the ongoing war.
President Biden’s visit to the UK followed his recent decision to send US cluster munitions to Ukraine, a move that has attracted criticism. Cluster munitions are banned by over 100 countries, including the United Kingdom, due to their indiscriminate impact on civilian populations. The United States, Russia, and Ukraine have not signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the production, stockpiling, use, and transfer of such weapons.
Sullivan assured that Prime Minister Sunak and President Biden share a strategic alignment on Ukraine, emphasizing their unity and coordination in pursuing shared objectives. Sunak, when asked about cluster munitions on Saturday, reiterated the UK’s commitment to the convention discouraging their use and pledged continued support to Ukraine.
