On his first call with a European leader
Biden and Johnson discuss consolidating the alliance between America and Britain
Johnson holds up the phone, laughing during his conversation with Biden.
Reuters
US President Joe Biden held telephone conversations with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the US President’s first call with a European leader since his inauguration. The two leaders talked about the Corona epidemic, security and trade, and pledged to consolidate relations between their countries and confront climate change.
In detail, a statement issued by 10 Downing Street said that Johnson congratulated Biden, the day before yesterday, on his inauguration as President of the United States, and the two leaders expressed during the phone conversation their "aspiration to consolidate the close alliance" between their two countries.
British newspapers reported that Johnson was the first European leader to receive a call from Biden, who had earlier spoken to his Canadian and Mexican counterparts.
The right-wing Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported that Johnson was the first leader outside North America to speak with Biden "after the scheduled call was brought forward by two days in a move seen as an important boost to the special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States."
This conversation comes after the contact that Biden made, Friday, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and he was his first with a foreign leader.
In the text of the call, the White House stated that Biden "expressed his intention to strengthen the special relationship between our two countries," and also pointed out "the importance of cooperation, including through multilateral organizations (to deal with) common challenges."
Johnson posted a tweet in which he said, "It's amazing to talk to President Joe Biden this evening," and attached it to a picture of him carrying the phone laughing.
And it seemed that the goal behind this conversation was to warm up the cold relationship between the two men, especially since Biden was describing Johnson in 2019 as a "physical and emotional clone" of Donald Trump.
Biden had also criticized Johnson's policy on "Brexit", but the Downing Street statement indicated that the two leaders "discussed the benefits of a possible free trade agreement" between the two countries.
Johnson said he intends to resolve the current trade disputes "as quickly as possible."
Johnson praised Biden's speed in overturning decisions previously made by his predecessor, Donald Trump.
The British Prime Minister also welcomed Biden's decision to return the United States to the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization, praising his commitment to reach zero emissions by 2050.
The two leaders expressed their hope to meet soon, and that they would work together at the United Nations Climate Summit scheduled to be held in Scotland in November.
The White House stated that common challenges include "facing climate change, containing (Covid-19), and ensuring global health security," noting that Biden intends to "revive transatlantic relations", stressing "the critical role of NATO in our collective defense and our common values." ».
Johnson's statement stated that the two leaders affirmed their "commitment to NATO," as well as "common values for promoting human rights and protecting democracy."
The two leaders share the same opinion regarding the "great challenges the world faces during the pandemic."
The two leaders said that the epidemic nonetheless created "unparalleled opportunities to rebuild in a better and more environmentally friendly way."
Johnson also praised Biden's decision to join the Kovacs platform, which is concerned with providing vaccines against the Corona virus for poor countries.
The White House reported that Johnson and the new US president also discussed "the need for coordination on common foreign policy priorities, including (those related to China, Iran and Russia)."
On the other hand, a statement issued yesterday said that the US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, informed his Israeli counterpart that President Joe Biden's administration will work closely with Israel on regional security issues and to build on regional peace treaties.
"They discussed opportunities to strengthen the partnership in the coming months," said a statement regarding a phone call that took place Saturday between Sullivan and his Israeli counterpart, Meir Ben Shabat.
The statement added that Sullivan issued a call to initiate a strategic dialogue in the near term.
• The two leaders stress the importance of cooperation across multilateral organizations to deal with common challenges.
Biden and Johnson affirm their commitment to NATO.
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