Joe Biden urges Liz Truss to settle Northern Ireland Brexit row with EU in first phone call with new PM
Joe Biden urged Liz Truss to settle the Northern Ireland Brexit row in the leaders’ first call last night.
The US President was among the quickest to congratulate the new PM, and stressed the ‘Special Relationship’ between the nations.
But in an ominous sign he also pointedly stressed the importance of reaching an agreement with the EU.
Ms Truss is threatening to push ahead with a plan to override parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, but the UK has struggled to convince the White House that Brussels is being unreasonable.
Mr Biden often speaks of his pride in his Irish roots, and some allies have warned there is no chance of a Transatlantic trade deal unless the issues are resolved.
According to the White House’s account of the call, the president and Ms Truss discussed their ‘shared commitment to protecting the gains of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the importance of reaching a negotiated agreement with the European Union on the Northern Ireland Protocol’.
The leaders also ‘discussed the importance of continued close cooperation on global challenges, including supporting Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression, addressing the challenges posed by China, preventing Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon, and securing sustainable and affordable energy resources’.
Joe Biden urged Liz Truss (pictured) to settle the Northern Ireland Brexit row in the leaders’ first call last night
The US President was among the quickest to congratulate the new PM, and stressed the ‘Special Relationship’ between the nations
Ms Truss is threatening to push ahead with a plan to override parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, but the UK has struggled to convince the White House that Brussels is being unreasonable
A Downing Street spokeswoman said the pair reflected on the ‘enduring strength’ of the special relationship between the UK and US.
‘The Prime Minister looked forward to working closely with President Biden as leaders of free democracies to tackle shared challenges, particularly the extreme economic problems unleashed by Putin’s war,’ the spokeswoman said.
‘The Prime Minister and President Biden reflected on the enduring strength of the special relationship. They agreed that the partnership between our countries, fortified by our shared values, has been crucial for defending and advancing freedom and democracy in the world.
‘They agreed to build on those links, including by furthering our deep defence alliance through Nato and Aukus.’
Earlier, Mr Biden was the first world leader to congratulate Ms Truss on her new position.
Just as Ms Truss finished her speech and formally entered Downing Street, the US president tweeted: ‘Congratulations to Prime Minister Liz Truss.
‘I look forward to deepening the special relationship between our countries and working in close cooperation on global challenges, including continued support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression.’
Ms Truss also accepted an invitation to visit Ukraine from President Volodymyr Zelensky during her first phone call as PM with a foreign leader.
Mr Zelensky – who had developed a ‘bromance’ with Boris Johnson – thanked the British people for their support but urged Ms Truss to ‘strengthen it’.
A No10 spokeswoman said that Ms Truss had told the Ukrainian president that his country could count on the UK’s assistance ‘for the long term’.
‘In her first call with a counterpart since becoming Prime Minister, she reiterated to the Ukrainian leader that he had her full backing, and Ukraine could depend on the UK’s assistance for the long term,’ she said.
Ms Truss also accepted an invitation to visit Ukraine from President Volodymyr Zelensky during her first phone call as PM with a foreign leader
‘President Zelensky thanked the Prime Minister for the UK’s staunch support and congratulated her on her appointment.
‘The leaders discussed the need to strengthen global security and the measures necessary to cut off the funds fuelling Putin’s war machine.
‘The leaders deplored Putin’s attempts to weaponise energy, and the Prime Minister said it was vital Russia’s blackmail did not deter the west from ensuring Putin fails. She also underscored the importance of ensuring the UK and our allies continue to build energy independence.’
The spokeswoman added that the Prime Minister was ‘delighted’ to accept an invitation to visit Ukraine.
‘She praised the Ukrainians’ fight for sovereignty and self-determination and said it was essential Ukraine succeeds and Russia fails,’ she said.
‘The Prime Minister said she looked forward to working with the president in the coming weeks and months and was delighted to accept an invitation to visit President Zelensky in Ukraine soon.’
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