London [UK], July 11: US President Joe Biden hailed the "rock-solid" relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom as he met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at his offices in London's Downing Street.
The US president praised the closeness of ties between the two countries as he and the prime minister held talks in the garden of No 10.
Biden, whose short layover in London comes ahead of a crunch NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on Tuesday and Wednesday, said the "relationship is rock solid." He said he "couldn't be meeting with a closer friend and a greater ally."
Sunak said the pair would continue talks on how the UK and US can "strengthen [their] co-operation, [their] joint economic security, to the benefit of [their] citizens." Ahead of the NATO gathering, the prime minister said the US and UK "stand as two of the firmest allies in that alliance." Biden ignored shouted questions from reporters.
Later, Britain's King Charles III hosted President Biden for tea and talks, in his private Windsor Castle sitting room, which lasted about 20 minutes - and they also viewed US-related items from the Royal Collection.
Ahead of the meeting, it was reported climate change was due to be discussed, and at the conclusion of their talks the King and the president joined delegates from the Climate Finance Mobilisation Forum who met at the castle.
A fleet of helicopters carrying the president - whose aircraft has the call sign Marine One - his entourage, security and travelling White House press corps landed on Windsor Castle's east terrace around 10 minutes before formalities began.
Charles stepped from a dais to meet the president as the door of a large chauffeur driven vehicle, which had swept onto the castle's quadrangle, was opened. The King warmly greeted the American leader, shaking hands with Biden as a guard of honour stood nearby. As the two men exchanged a few words while still shaking hands, Biden touched the King's right arm with his free hand and Charles returned the gesture, and later during the welcome ceremony the pair were photographed laughing together.
The King and the president last met on the eve of the late Queen's funeral last September, when a reception was held for dignitaries ahead of the national event.
A spokesperson for the King said about the Windsor Castle event: "An extremely cordial and successful meeting that touched on a wide variety of issues of mutual interest and concern.
"You will have seen for yourselves the personal warmth between His Majesty and the president." The pomp and pageantry saw the president, joined by the King, inspect a Guard of Honour formed of the Prince of Wales's Company from the Welsh Guards. The two heads of state then watched the guardsmen and officers march off the quadrangle before they sat down to tea in the castle's oak room.
Source: Qatar Tribune