US President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit the United Kingdom this month in an effort to enhance the strong bond between the two nations. The White House has confirmed that President
Biden will meet with King Charles III and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during his visit. This will be the King's first meeting with President Biden since his coronation, as the US president was unable to attend. Instead, First Lady Jill Biden represented the United States at the coronation ceremony.
President Biden's visit will commence on July 9 in London before he proceeds to the NATO summit in Lithuania. The visit to the UK was long anticipated and follows Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's trip to Washington for discussions last month.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated, "President Biden will first travel to London, United Kingdom for engagements with King Charles III and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to further strengthen the close relationship between our nations."
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the meeting between President Biden and the King will take place at Windsor Castle on July 10. A spokesperson from 10 Downing Street expressed that the visit reflects the strong relationship between the UK and the US. The Prime Minister is eagerly looking forward to welcoming President Biden later this month.
The upcoming visit comes in the wake of the US-UK announcement of the "Atlantic Declaration," a new partnership aimed at bolstering economic security. The declaration, revealed during Rishi Sunak's visit to the White House, includes commitments to reduce trade barriers, forge closer ties in the defense industry, and establish a data protection agreement.
While both sides have praised the strength of the US-UK relationship, President Biden has not hesitated to voice occasional criticism of London. In May, he visited the island of Ireland to ensure that Brexit would not have a negative impact on the peace process. During his visit, President Biden urged the UK to collaborate more closely with the administration in Dublin to support Northern Ireland.
In addition to his UK visit, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will also be attending the NATO summit in Vilnius, where crucial discussions regarding Ukraine's request for membership in the alliance are expected to take place. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.