Biden meets King Charles and PM Sunak ahead of NATO summit

U.S. President Joe Biden met with Britain’s King Charles in Windsor Castle to discuss climate change. Prior to this meeting, Biden also visited Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Downing Street, emphasizing the strong friendship between the two countries. Biden’s visit to Sunak was part of their ongoing discussions, marking their fifth meeting in as many months. During their brief meeting, Sunak expressed his appreciation for the continued conversations. Biden echoed this sentiment, highlighting the rock-solid relationship between the two nations. Following his meeting with Sunak, Biden proceeded to Windsor Castle for his meeting with the king, where they were expected to discuss climate change, a cause that Charles has been advocating for over five decades. The meeting began with the king welcoming the president in the castle’s quadrangle, accompanied by a guard of honor. The two leaders were scheduled to have tea and discuss strategies to promote private investment in combating climate change, a shared concern they consider to be of existential importance. The White House national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, praised the king’s commitment to climate change, stating that Biden holds great respect for his advocacy on this issue. The meeting between Biden and Charles is significant, particularly as Sunak has faced criticism regarding his dedication to environmental issues. Despite not having a close relationship, Biden and Charles had a warm phone conversation earlier this year. Biden’s attendance at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral and Jill Biden’s presence at the king’s coronation further demonstrate the ongoing connection between the two countries. In preparation for the NATO summit in Lithuania, Sunak and Biden planned to exchange information. The summit’s primary focus is the Ukraine crisis, and Biden urged caution regarding Ukraine’s potential NATO membership. He emphasized that there is no consensus within NATO on this matter, especially during an ongoing conflict. In an interview with CNN, Biden expressed his reservations about Ukraine’s NATO membership at this time. Additionally, Biden recently agreed to send cluster munitions to Ukraine, a decision that has raised concerns due to the potential harm they can cause to civilian populations. These munitions are banned by over 100 countries, including Britain. It is important to note that Russia, Ukraine, and the United States have not signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Sunak’s spokesperson acknowledged the difficulty of the U.S. decision, attributing it to pressure from Russia.