United States President
Joe Biden is scheduled to visit the United Kingdom on July 9th as part of his European tour. The White House confirmed that the President will meet King Charles III and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to "further strengthen the close relationship between our nations." The historic meeting will mark the first time King Charles III will be hosting President Biden since his ascension to the throne.
In a notable absence, President Biden was not present during the King’s coronation. However, First Lady Jill Biden represented the United States during the royal ceremony.
Following his visit to London, President Biden will participate in the NATO summit in Lithuania before concluding his European tour in Finland on July 13th.
The UK visit comes on the heels of Prime Minister Sunak's recent trip to Washington, where discussions between the two nations took place. In confirmation of President Biden's upcoming visit, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized the significance of the engagements with King Charles III and Prime Minister Sunak as pivotal to enhancing the deep ties between the United States and the United Kingdom.
Buckingham Palace has revealed that the King will meet President Biden at Windsor Castle on July 10th. A spokesperson for Downing Street emphasized the visit's importance by stating that it “reflects the strong relationship" between the two nations. The spokesperson further added, “The Prime Minister looks forward to welcoming President Biden in the UK later this month,” and assured that further details about the visit would be shared in due course.
President Biden's European tour follows a brief visit he made to Northern Ireland in April. During that trip, he commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and met with the Prime Minister for short discussions in Belfast.
This imminent visit gains additional significance in light of the recent announcement of the 'Atlantic Declaration', a new partnership aimed at reinforcing economic security between the US and the UK. The declaration, which was unveiled during Prime Minister Sunak's Washington visit, encompasses commitments to ease trade barriers, fortify defense industry ties, and establish a data protection deal.
While the Washington meeting celebrated the resilience and strength of US-UK relations, President Biden has not shied away from voicing criticism towards London. During his May visit to Ireland, Biden articulated the importance of his presence on the island to ensure that the "Brits didn't screw around" in the context of the impact of Brexit on the peace process. He urged the UK to collaborate more intimately with Dublin to support Northern Ireland.
Prime Minister Sunak is also slated to attend the NATO summit in Vilnius. The summit is expected to be critical, with the anticipation of arriving at a consensus regarding Ukraine's request for membership in the alliance.
As the world watches, President Biden's meeting with King Charles III and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stands as a noteworthy event in the longstanding alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom. Through diplomatic engagements and new partnerships like the 'Atlantic Declaration', both nations seek to navigate the complexities of the modern world together.
