The US President told reporters that America and the UK have 'a strong position' Relations By: Rory Arnold/10 Downing Street.
The sketches gave an idea of the topics of conversation between American and British leaders. Perhaps they also reminded of the age difference between the two men.
Joe Biden's note card, which listed items for his Downing Street garden meeting with Rishi Sunak on Monday morning, was spotted by a keen-eyed photographer.
The word «NATO» was written at the top in capital letters with an underline for emphasis. As of Tuesday, the couple are at a two-day military alliance summit in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.
Not all of the five items numbered below were legible, but some were. «Turkey» is read in one part, clearly alluding to the resistance of the NATO member to the accession of some new countries.
«F-16,» said another. The UK and US have been arguing for months over whether, when and how to provide Ukraine with F-16s to help repel a Russian invasion.
That Mr. Biden even felt the need for clues — something he had seen several times in recent meetings with the U.S. leader — was perhaps more appealing than the subject matter.
Biden is 80 years old, he is the oldest person ever elected to the presidency of the United States. Sunak, 43, became the youngest prime minister in more than two centuries last fall. The age difference was made clear as Biden's fleet of vehicles with tinted windows and US flags flying at the corners drove down Downing Street, the armored vehicle nicknamed «The Beast» carrying the president himself.
Mr. Team Sunak literally rolled out the red carpet, the Prime Minister stood beaming at the strip of fabric outside Door 10, and Mr. Biden walked slowly towards the handshake.
Warm words and a nod were exchanged. given by Mr. Biden to photographers shouting «sir, sir!» when they were looking for the best shots before the couple headed inside.
The spot chosen for the meeting was number 10 lawn. It was a daring gamble that paid off as it didn't rain despite unreliable British summer weather.
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Mr Biden and Mr Sunak sipped from mugs with a black and white etching of the Downing Street scene — a hint to the British tea tradition before getting down to business.
< p>The opening speeches of world leaders were captured by journalists. “Well, Joe, welcome,” Mr. Sunak said, naming his colleague. “It's great to have you back here in Downing Street. You've been here several times, I know, but [this] is your first time as president. So we are honored and lucky to have you here.”
The two men have met with unusual frequency this year, the combination of standard international summits with one-off events allowing regular face-to-face meetings. dialogue with a face.
There were talks in California, Mr. Biden's visit to Northern Ireland for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, the G7 summit in Japan, and Mr. Sunak's trip to Washington, DC.< /p>
The President mentioned this in his opening remarks. : “We met in San Diego, Belfast, Hiroshima, Washington, here. And I couldn't date a closer friend and greater ally.»
He added, «I think we're doing well. I think we are moving forward in a positive way, but our relationship between the United States [and] the UK is very strong.”
An extended guest list was selected for official discussions, with the Downing Street scheme adopted «one plus four», that is, the leader and four additional people.
Each side had its highest ranking diplomats in attendance — James Cleverley, Secretary of State, and Anthony Blinken, US Secretary of State, as well as three other officials.
The photos published in #10 show the scene: wicker chairs on the mottled lawn near the flower bed. Only the costumes of the men present and the notepads in some circles made it clear that this was not a social event.
Biden makes up for his absence from the coronation
Mr. Biden's visit to the UK was not primarily intended for pressing political discussions. .
The president was unable to attend the king's coronation earlier this year and wanted to accept an offer to visit the new monarch, according to those involved in the travel arrangements.
The President really wanted to meet King Charles. Credit: Chris Jackson/AFP via Getty Images
However, there were still important issues to discuss, not least what level of US and British support should be given to Ukraine in its fight against Russia. invasion hits 500 days.
Last week, Mr. Biden said he had made a «very difficult decision» to provide cluster bombs to Ukrainian defense forces. His own White House supporters have previously denounced the use of the munition.
The UK is among the countries that have banned weapons that release large numbers of tiny bombs from a rocket or projectile while in flight, but the US has no such ban. The prime minister did not approve of the use of cluster bombs in a conversation with Biden, Downing Street told political reporters after the meeting.
A spokesman for Mr Sunak said: «When it comes to these munitions, I think that the first thing to say is that it was a difficult choice for the US, which was forced on them by Russia's aggressive war.»
“As the Prime Minister stated over the weekend, the UK is a state party to the convention on cluster munitions, so they discussed the UK's obligations under the convention not to manufacture or use cluster munitions, and to prevent their use.” /p>
When asked whether Mr. Sunak fulfilled his responsibility to prevent the use of cluster bombs, as required by the relevant convention to which the UK is a signatory, the spokesman answered yes.
In official Reports of the meeting released by the White House and Downing Street also focus on different topics.
The US version notes that the couple «discussed events in Northern Ireland». The Biden administration has been keeping a close eye on trade deals since Brexit for a long time.
The British reports did not mention Northern Ireland, but it did say that Iran was discussed at some point. It is clear that the talk was about the regime's malicious activities, albeit in general terms.
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