LONDON/WINDSOR, England- On Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden will have separate meetings with Britain's King Charles and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The discussions are anticipated to focus on climate change and the situation in Ukraine.
Biden arrived in London on Sunday, marking the beginning of his three-nation trip, which also includes a NATO summit in Lithuania. The purpose of the trip is to demonstrate support for Ukraine against Russia's invasion while maintaining a stance of not yet accepting Kyiv as a NATO member.
President Joe Biden and King Charles will meet at Windsor Castle to discuss strategies for increasing private investment in addressing climate change, which both leaders view as a significant and urgent threat. The president holds great admiration for the king's strong dedication to addressing climate issues, as he has been a prominent and influential advocate on this matter. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized the king's influential role in climate action during a press briefing on Air Force One.
According to Sullivan, President Biden aims to strengthen his personal bond with King Charles, as they do not have a deep existing relationship. Sullivan mentioned that earlier this year, the two leaders had a phone conversation that was characterized as exceptionally friendly and warm. The king's office stated that the meeting will take place in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle, where a guard of honor will present a Royal Salute, and the U.S. national anthem will be performed.
In 2021, President Biden had a tea meeting with Queen Elizabeth, the late mother of King Charles, at Windsor Castle.
Prior to that, the president will visit 10 Downing Street for a relaxed meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, marking their fifth meeting in consecutive months. According to Sullivan, the visit is not intended as a formal meeting but rather as a continuation of an ongoing conversation. This visit will be Biden's first as president to Downing Street.
Sullivan mentioned that before the NATO summit in Lithuania, President Biden and Prime Minister Sunak would exchange information and coordinate their positions. The summit will primarily revolve around the Ukraine crisis, which has brought NATO members closer together.
In anticipation of the trip, Biden cautioned against hasty decisions regarding Ukraine's NATO membership, expressing concerns that it could potentially draw the alliance into the ongoing war with Russia due to NATO's mutual defense agreement. He emphasized that there is no unanimous agreement within NATO regarding Ukraine's immediate inclusion in the alliance.
Prior to his trip, Biden approved the shipment of cluster munitions to Ukraine. These munitions are prohibited by over 100 countries, including the United Kingdom, due to their significant risk to civilian populations, as they often disperse numerous smaller bomblets that can cause indiscriminate harm over a wide area. Notably, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States have not signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the production, stockpiling, use, and transfer of such weapons.
Sullivan asserted that Prime Minister Sunak and President Biden are strategically aligned on Ukraine and have a unified approach towards achieving their broader objectives. Sunak, when asked about cluster munitions, reaffirmed Britain's commitment as a signatory to the convention discouraging their use and expressed continued support for Ukraine.