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G7: UK and US in complete harmony over Northern Ireland - Boris Johnson G7: Joe Biden is breath of fresh air, says Boris Johnson
(about 1 hour later)
There is “so much” the US presidential team want to do with the UK says Boris Johnson.There is “so much” the US presidential team want to do with the UK says Boris Johnson.
There is "complete harmony" on the need to solve trade problems in Northern Ireland, Boris Johnson has said, following his first face-to-face meeting with US president Joe Biden. Boris Johnson has described the US president Joe Biden as a "breath of fresh air" after they met on the eve of the G7 summit in Cornwall.
The two leaders met in Cornwall on the eve of the G7 summit. "There's so much that they want to do together with us, from security, NATO, to climate change," the PM said.
There is also "complete harmony" with Mr Biden over Northern Ireland, Mr Johnson added.
Mr Johnson said the US, UK and EU all wanted to protect the Good Friday Agreement.Mr Johnson said the US, UK and EU all wanted to protect the Good Friday Agreement.
Earlier, Mr Biden warned that the UK-EU dispute over border controls should not risk the peace process.Earlier, Mr Biden warned that the UK-EU dispute over border controls should not risk the peace process.
The prime minister said he was "optimistic" the peace process would be kept going and that there is "absolutely common ground" on the issue between the two leaders.
During their meeting, the two men also established a taskforce to re-establish travel across the Atlantic, after the US banned most British people from entering at the start of the pandemic.During their meeting, the two men also established a taskforce to re-establish travel across the Atlantic, after the US banned most British people from entering at the start of the pandemic.
And they agreed a deal - labelled the "Atlantic Charter" - which commits the two countries to work together on global challenges.And they agreed a deal - labelled the "Atlantic Charter" - which commits the two countries to work together on global challenges.
Mr Johnson said: "It's incredibly important that we should affirm that [relationship] and the talks were great, they went on for a long time, we covered a huge range of subjects, and it's wonderful to listen to the Biden administration and to Joe Biden."
Mr Biden said the "Atlantic Charter" would address the "key challenges of this century - cyber security, emerging technologies, global health and climate change".
"We affirmed the special relationship - that is not said lightly - the special relationship between our people and renewed our commitment to defending the enduring democratic values that both our nations share," he added.
Earlier, the leaders posed for photographs with their wives and the four exchanged gifts, with keen cyclist Mr Johnson receiving a US-made bike and helmet.
Mr Johnson gave the president a photo of Frederick Douglass - a former slave who campaigned against slavery in the 19th Century - and a first edition of Daphne du Maurier's The Apple Tree, a collection of short stories, to First Lady Jill Biden.
Why does the G7 summit matter?Why does the G7 summit matter?
From Air Force One to Beast - Biden's travel kitFrom Air Force One to Beast - Biden's travel kit
Biden to warn PM not to risk NI peace over BrexitBiden to warn PM not to risk NI peace over Brexit
The G7 summit begins on Friday and will be the first time world leaders have assembled in person since the coronavirus pandemic.The G7 summit begins on Friday and will be the first time world leaders have assembled in person since the coronavirus pandemic.
Covid vaccines and climate change are on the agenda - but the on-going disagreement between the UK and the EU over post-Brexit regulatory checks on goods going into Northern Ireland from Great Britain look set to feature heavily in diplomatic discussions.Covid vaccines and climate change are on the agenda - but the on-going disagreement between the UK and the EU over post-Brexit regulatory checks on goods going into Northern Ireland from Great Britain look set to feature heavily in diplomatic discussions.
The arrangements were agreed in the 2019 Brexit withdrawal deal, but the UK has since sought more flexibility.The arrangements were agreed in the 2019 Brexit withdrawal deal, but the UK has since sought more flexibility.
Asked about the dispute on Thursday evening, French President Emmanuel Macron said: "I think it's not serious to want to review in July what we finalised after years of debate and work in December.Asked about the dispute on Thursday evening, French President Emmanuel Macron said: "I think it's not serious to want to review in July what we finalised after years of debate and work in December.
"We have a trade deal - it has been painfully discussed for years... if six months later, they say: 'What we negotiated with you, we don't know how to respect it', then that means that nothing is respectable anymore.""We have a trade deal - it has been painfully discussed for years... if six months later, they say: 'What we negotiated with you, we don't know how to respect it', then that means that nothing is respectable anymore."
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the Northern Ireland protocol - the name for the post-Brexit trading rules - was the "only solution" and should be implemented fully.European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the Northern Ireland protocol - the name for the post-Brexit trading rules - was the "only solution" and should be implemented fully.
What is the UK-EU Northern Ireland dispute about?What is the UK-EU Northern Ireland dispute about?
Northern Ireland was given special status as a result of the 2019 Brexit "divorce" settlement between the UK and the EU.Northern Ireland was given special status as a result of the 2019 Brexit "divorce" settlement between the UK and the EU.
While England, Scotland and Wales no longer follow EU rules, Northern Ireland still does, because it shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland, an EU member.While England, Scotland and Wales no longer follow EU rules, Northern Ireland still does, because it shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland, an EU member.
In order to avoid a physical border between the two countries - and thereby protect the peace process - it was agreed that customs checks would take place on goods entering Northern Ireland from elsewhere in the UK.In order to avoid a physical border between the two countries - and thereby protect the peace process - it was agreed that customs checks would take place on goods entering Northern Ireland from elsewhere in the UK.
But unionists say this has effectively put a border down the Irish Sea instead - something they are ideologically opposed to - and business say supply chains have been complicated and disrupted.But unionists say this has effectively put a border down the Irish Sea instead - something they are ideologically opposed to - and business say supply chains have been complicated and disrupted.
Talks on Wednesday between Brexit minister Lord Frost and the European Commission's Maros Sefcovic to try to resolve the standoff ended without a breakthrough.Talks on Wednesday between Brexit minister Lord Frost and the European Commission's Maros Sefcovic to try to resolve the standoff ended without a breakthrough.
Since becoming president, Mr Biden has frequently stressed the importance of the Good Friday Agreement - the deal, brokered by the US, which brought peace to Northern Ireland.Since becoming president, Mr Biden has frequently stressed the importance of the Good Friday Agreement - the deal, brokered by the US, which brought peace to Northern Ireland.
And speaking before the summit, the president's national security adviser told the BBC that Mr Biden has "deep" concerns that a UK-EU trade row could endanger peace in the region.And speaking before the summit, the president's national security adviser told the BBC that Mr Biden has "deep" concerns that a UK-EU trade row could endanger peace in the region.
Asked if Mr Biden made his alarm about the situation in Northern Ireland clear, Mr Johnson replied: "No, he didn't."Asked if Mr Biden made his alarm about the situation in Northern Ireland clear, Mr Johnson replied: "No, he didn't."
'Breath of fresh air'
Speaking after his meeting with Mr Johnson, Mr Biden said the "Atlantic Charter" would address the "key challenges of this century - cyber security, emerging technologies, global health and climate change".
"We affirmed the special relationship - that is not said lightly - the special relationship between our people and renewed our commitment to defending the enduring democratic values that both our nations share," he added.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson praised the Biden administration as "a breath of fresh air" adding "there's so much they want to do together with us, from security, Nato, to climate change".
Exchanging gifts, Mr Johnson gave the president a photo of Frederick Douglass - a former slave who campaigned against slavery in the 19th century - and a first edition of a collection of short stories by Daphne du Maurier to First Lady Jill Biden.
The Bidens gave Mr Johnson a US-made bike and helmet while the prime minister's new wife Carrie Johnson received a tote bag and scarf.
Carrie Johnson and her young son with Jill BidenCarrie Johnson and her young son with Jill Biden
Before the meeting, Mrs Biden and Mrs Johnson joined their husbands in Cornwall for walk in Carbis Bay.Before the meeting, Mrs Biden and Mrs Johnson joined their husbands in Cornwall for walk in Carbis Bay.
Admiring the view, Mr Biden said: "It's gorgeous - I don't want to go home."Admiring the view, Mr Biden said: "It's gorgeous - I don't want to go home."
The two women dipped their feet in the sea and later had tea together.The two women dipped their feet in the sea and later had tea together.
Dr Biden told reporters: "It's really nice to be here in Cornwall. It's my first time. Obviously it's beautiful for those of you who have been here before."Dr Biden told reporters: "It's really nice to be here in Cornwall. It's my first time. Obviously it's beautiful for those of you who have been here before."
Mr Biden suggested that both he and the prime minister had "married way above our stations" - something with which Mr Johnson agreed.Mr Biden suggested that both he and the prime minister had "married way above our stations" - something with which Mr Johnson agreed.
The prime minister married his partner Carrie in a low-key wedding in Westminster Cathedral, at the end of May.The prime minister married his partner Carrie in a low-key wedding in Westminster Cathedral, at the end of May.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arriving for the G7 summit at Cornwall airport in NewquayCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arriving for the G7 summit at Cornwall airport in Newquay