Joe Biden urges Britain to 'get closer with Europe' as Starmer eyes fresh EU deal
Joe Biden has urged Britain to get "closer with Europe" during bilateral talks with Sir Keir Starmer.
Speaking to the new Prime Minister, the US President said the UK is the "transatlantic knot" binding the two continents together.
Starmer travelled to Washington for the Nato summit, last night meeting with Biden in the White House.
Before winning the election, he vowed to renegotiate the UK's Brexit deal.
He is seeking to negotiate an ambitious new UK-EU security pact to strengthen co-operation
PA
He is seeking to negotiate an ambitious new UK-EU security pact to strengthen co-operation, as well as seeking closer work on defence with key allies such as France and Germany.
The PM said his visit to the US was an opportunity to "recommit to Nato, to recommit to the special relationship".
The President said: "I kind of see you guys as the knot tying the transatlantic alliance together, the closer you are with Europe. We know where you are, you know where we are."
The trip to the White House came less than a week Starmer's landslide election victory and during his debut on the international leaders’ summit circuit.
Stamer told the President: “The special relationship is so important. It’s forged in difficult circumstances, endured for so long, and stronger now than ever.
“I’m very pleased to be able to come so early in government to recommit to Nato, to recommit to the special relationship and to discuss these affairs with you.”
The trip to the White House came less than a week Starmer's landslide election victory and during his debut on the international leaders’ summit circuit
PA
A UK Government spokesman said Biden and Starmer "agreed we must continue to do whatever it takes to support Ukraine and ensure aggressors like Putin do not win".
The spokesman added: "The President welcomed the Prime Minister’s recent comments on establishing closer relationships with our European counterparts, as well as the UK’s commitment to Aukus."
The meeting came as the PM prepared to urge Nato allies to support Ukraine for “as long as it takes” as he confirmed the UK’s own £3 billion a year military aid for Kyiv will continue.
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Starmer is expected to tell members of Nato that they need to send a "clear message" to Vladimir Putin over Ukraine.
He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the margins of the summit yesterday evening.