LONDON (CU)_ British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to US President Joe Biden last evening (Jan 23), for the first time since the President’s inauguration on Wednesday (Jan 20).
PM Johnson said on Twitter that it was “great to speak to President Biden”, and that he looks forward to deepening the longstanding alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States, as they drove a “green and sustainable recovery from COVID-19”.
According to a Downing Street spokesman, the Prime Minister also “warmly welcomed” Biden’s decision to rejoin the Paris climate accords and the World Health Organisation, after his predecessor withdrew the US from these global forums during his presidency.
“The prime minister praised President Biden’s early action on tackling climate change and commitment to reach net zero by 2050,” the spokesman said.
Johnson and Biden look forward to meeting in person during the COP26 UN Climate Change Summit in Glasgow, as well as the forthcoming G7 and the G20 summits, the spokesman added.
He noted that building on the two nations’ “long history of cooperation in security and defence”, the two leaders re-committed to the NATO alliance and their shared values in promoting human rights and protecting democracy.
The leaders discussed “the benefits of a potential free trade deal” between the two nations, with the British Prime Minister reaffirming his intention to resolve existing trade issues “as soon as possible”.
However, it is noteworthy that while Downing Street did mention a conversation about a trade deal, White House’s readout about the call did not mention anything in this regard. Nevertheless, the statement issued by the White House said the US President “conveyed his intention to strengthen the special relationship” between the US and UK and “revitalize transatlantic ties”.
While the Johnson and Biden have never met in real life, however, the new US President once referred to the British Prime Minister as a “physical and emotional clone” of Trump.
It is reported that the recent call with Johnson is Biden’s first conversation with a European leader, since taking office as President.
