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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. |
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. | |
"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 kit | From Air Force One to Beast - Biden's travel kit |
Biden to warn PM not to risk NI peace over Brexit | Biden 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." |
Carrie Johnson and her young son with Jill Biden | Carrie 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 Newquay | Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arriving for the G7 summit at Cornwall airport in Newquay |