RISHI SUNAK was making his big pitch to Joe Biden today to burnish the special relationship ties between Britain and America in his first Oval Office talks with the president.
The war in Ukraine was set to top the agenda, with the UK having led the West in supplying arms to Kyiv to fight back against Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
The Prime Minister’s White House visit comes at a crunch time in the conflict, amid reports of Ukrainian forces seizing the initiative in a series of front-line battles thought to be part of the long-awaited counter-offensive. Its success, or not, could shape the outcome of the war. The two leaders were expected to also discuss the growing threat from China, artificial intelligence and Mr Biden’s inflation reduction act, a massive package of tax breaks and subsidies seeking to boost US green industries, which has been criticised as protectionism.
Crucially, they were also seeking to move on from the more fraught trans-Atlantic relations under the brief premiership of Liz Truss and of Boris Johnson, with tensions over their confrontational approach to Brexit and the Northern Ireland trade row. They were laid bare when Mr Biden recently told a Democrat gathering in New York that he had travelled to Northern Ireland in April, for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, to make sure “the Brits didn’t screw around” over the Brexit trade row, comments which were condemned by Tory MPs.
Mr Sunak yesterday opened his two-day Washington visit by laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
This story is from the June 08, 2023 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 08, 2023 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Derby display shows we can handle title pressure, says Arteta
MIKEL ARTETA believes Arsenal's thumping win over Chelsea has filled his players with the belief they can handle the pressure of the title run-in.
Klopp admits he won't miss pressure of derby
IN Liverpool's remarkable 2018-19 campaign, when they finished with 97 points but were still one short of Manchester City, their only missteps in the run-in were against Manchester United and Everton.
'I CAN'T BLAME MY PLAYERS...THE PROBLEM IS BIGGER'
POCH WARNS CHELSEA OVER SUMMER PLANS
Top Gunners throw down gauntlet to title rivals
Five-star performance an ominous warning as Mikel’s men run riot to set up fascinating finale
Glasner effect rubbing off on reborn Mateta
Striker has gone from Palace flop to undroppable since turn of year
Mental health 'taboo' for women at work
ALMOST four out of 10 women have taken time off work as a result of poor mental health over the past year, a new report claims today.
Lloyds predicts property prices will rise in 2024
LLOYDS Bank offered a boost to home owners and those trying to get on the property ladder today when it said prices will rise and the cost of new mortgages will fall this year.
Nottingham Forest are really playing with fire
NOTTINGHAM FOREST'S incendiary post about refereeing decisions in the aftermath of their defeat to Everton on Sunday has been viewed over 43 million times, making it one of football's most successful examples of rage-tweeting.
My problem with Victoria Beckham's new line
THE fashion press must have sore throats from all the praise they are loudly lavishing on Victoria Beckham right now.
Can the dream of smartphone-free kids come true?
Experts believe that phone-based childhoods are seriously harming mental health and parents are fighting back says Emily Phillips