Boris Johnson and Joe Biden agreed on Saturday to deepen ties between the two countries, in their first telephone interview since the second was inaugurated as President of the United States.
The British Prime Minister congratulated Joe Biden on his inauguration and “the two leaders have planned to deepen the alliance between the two nations,” Downing Street said in a statement.
According to the British press, Mr Johnson is the first European leader to have the honor of a call from the new tenant of the White House.
Mr. Biden “expressed his intention to strengthen the special relationship between our two countries” and the two leaders “discussed the need for coordination on their common foreign policy priorities, including China, Iran and Russia, ”the White House said in an account of the telephone conversation.
“Fighting climate change, curbing COVID-19 and ensuring the health security of the world” are among the challenges to be met, the White House said, and Mr. Biden intends to “rekindle transatlantic ties, by emphasizing NATO’s essential role for our collective defense and the values we share ”.
Boris Johnson posted a photo on Twitter showing him in shirt sleeves and laughing as he spoke on the phone, with the comment that he had been “great to speak with President Joe Biden tonight”.
“Rebuild better and greener”
The two appear to have focused on improving their relationship after Joe Biden described Boris Johnson in December as a “physical and emotional clone” of Donald Trump, the outgoing President of the United States.
Joe Biden was also critical of Boris Johnson’s pro-Brexit policy, but the two leaders “discussed the benefits of a possible free trade agreement between the two countries,” the statement said.
The British Prime Minister hailed Joe Biden’s decision to quickly reverse political decisions made by his predecessor.
He thus “welcomed” the return of the United States to the Paris Climate Agreement and to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The two leaders have expressed the wish to meet in the near future and work together in preparation for the United Nations (UN) climate summit, which is due to take place in Scotland in November.
They reaffirmed their commitment to NATO and “common values in the defense of human rights and democracy,” the statement said.
They felt that the COVID-19 pandemic offered “an unparalleled opportunity to rebuild better and greener, together”.
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