LONDON, Jan 24, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Boris Johnson and Joe Biden on Saturday
vowed to deepen ties and cooperate on tackling climate change in their first
conversation since the US president’s inauguration, the British prime
minister’s office said.
Johnson congratulated Biden on his inauguration and “the two leaders looked
forward to deepening the close alliance between our nations”, said the
statement from Downing Street.
British newspapers reported that Johnson was the first European leader to
receive a call from Biden, who earlier spoke to Canadian and Mexican
counterparts.
The right-wing Sunday Telegraph reported that Johnson was the first leader
outside North America to speak to Biden “after his scheduled call was brought
forward two days in what will be seen as a major boost for the special
relationship between the UK and US.”
Biden on Friday spoke to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in his
first call to a foreign leader.
Johnson tweeted a picture of himself in shirt-sleeves laughing as he spoke
on the phone. “Great to speak to President @JoeBiden this evening,” he wrote.
The conversation appeared aimed at warming frosty relations after Biden in
2019 described Johnson as a “physical and emotional clone” of Donald Trump,
his predecessor as US president.
Biden has also been critical of Johnson’s Brexit policy, but the Downing
Street statement said the leaders “discussed the benefits of a potential free
trade deal between our two countries”.
Johnson said he intended to resolve current trade issues “as soon as
possible”.
Biden, who has Irish roots, had warned ahead of his election that if Brexit
damaged the 1998 Good Friday Agreement he would not consent to a trade deal.
That agreement ended 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland.
Johnson praised Biden for swiftly reversing policy decisions made by his
predecessor.
He “warmly welcomed” Biden’s decision to put the United States back into
the Paris climate accord and rejoin the World Health Organization. The prime
minister also praised Biden’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
The leaders said they hoped to meet soon and would work together on the
United Nations’ global climate change summit to be held in Scotland in
November, said the statement.
The leaders “re-committed to the NATO alliance” and “shared values in
promoting human rights and protecting democracy”, it added. Trump was highly
critical of the transatlantic alliance.
The leaders also agreed on the “significant challenges facing the world
during the pandemic”. The United States has the largest number of cases and
deaths in the world, while the UK has the highest number of deaths in Europe.
The leaders said the pandemic nevertheless created “unparalleled
opportunities to build back better and greener together”.
Johnson also praised Biden for joining the Covax initiative, a global pool
of coronavirus vaccine doses for poorer nations.