On July 10th, newly appointed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with US President Biden for their first one-on-one meeting. Starmer praised the special relationship between the UK and the US, and the two leaders also celebrated England’s victory in the 2024 European Cup quarterfinals during the meeting.
Last week, Starmer was elected as the UK Prime Minister with overwhelming support, ending the Conservative Party’s 14-year rule in the UK. Currently, Starmer is in Washington attending the NATO Leaders’ Summit, his first international summit. On Wednesday, he met with Biden in the Oval Office at the White House, discussing the historical and cultural ties between the UK and the US, calling it a “special relationship.”
“The UK-US special relationship is so crucial. It was built in challenging circumstances, endured through the years, and now, it is stronger than ever before,” said Starmer.
“I am delighted to represent the government so early on and reaffirm our commitment to NATO, the commitment to the special relationship, and discuss these matters with you,” he added.
Biden once again congratulated Starmer on his election, noting that the UK is an important ally of the US on a wide range of global issues.
The two leaders reiterated their commitment to deepening global cooperation between the US and UK in addressing common challenges.
They emphasized their joint commitment to supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression, discussed the importance of achieving a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and reaffirmed their commitment to solutions for both countries.
The leaders expressed anticipation for working together to deepen US-UK cooperation on economic and climate issues, aiming to build a more prosperous and resilient future for the American and British people.
During their conversation, they also joked about England’s victory in the football match. Starmer hinted that England might win the 24th European Cup, to which Biden responded that defeating the Netherlands was “indeed good news” and joked that “it’s all thanks to the Prime Minister.”
This Sunday, Starmer will attend the European Cup final. He mentioned watching part of the game broadcast with the new Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on the sidelines of the NATO Summit.
“I watched the game with the Dutch Prime Minister, but we left when it was 1-1,” Starmer said.
Biden chuckled and asked, “Did you two keep talking to each other afterward?”
During the NATO Summit, Biden has been displaying humor and energy in his public speeches and interactions in an effort to convince voters that he has the stamina and vitality for re-election and another four years as the US President.
(Information referenced from reports by Reuters)