President Biden’s European Visit: Engaging with King Charles III and Tackling Ukraine War

President Biden’s European Visit

President Joe Biden is scheduled to travel to the U.K., where he will meet with King Charles III to discuss environmental issues and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to discuss the conflict in Ukraine. The historic Windsor Castle and the royal connection serve to highlight the significance of the trans-Atlantic “special relationship,” which has been tested by Brexit but strengthened by cooperation on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, even though this visit does not include the full ceremonial honors and banquets of a state visit.

President Biden will take a flight to London on Sunday before attending a NATO conference in Lithuania. He will meet with Prime Minister Sunak in 10 Downing Street on Monday, and then he will visit with King Charles at Windsor Castle. Since the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September, they will be meeting for the first time.

NATO summit

Prior to both attending the NATO summit in Vilnius, President Biden and Prime Minister Sunak will discuss issues pertaining to Ukraine. The leaders of NATO will talk about how much the military alliance should aid Ukraine. Despite earlier assurances that Ukraine would eventually join NATO, made in 2008, and despite President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s fervent pleas, a clear roadmap has not been devised.

The United States is more circumspect about Ukraine than many other NATO members, claims Julie Norman, co-director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London. Before the official NATO meeting, Norman hypothesizes that there may be private discussions concerning the U.K.’s position on the issue.

In the Western world, the U.S. and the U.K. both firmly support Ukraine. Norman points out that the U.K. has taken the initiative in several military obligations, which has prompted the Biden administration to adopt a more proactive stance on matters like tanks and supplying Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets through collaborative efforts on the global level.

Prime Minister Sunak remarked on Saturday that Britain discourages the use of cluster bombs, which are outlawed by a convention ratified by more than 120 nations, including the U.K. President Biden, however, is under fire from allies, including Britain, over his plan to give Ukraine these weapons.

The U.K. has refrained from criticizing Washington for failing to endorse Defense Secretary Ben Wallace’s bid to lead NATO because it is determined to show unity among Ukraine’s allies. The incumbent Secretary General’s tenure, Jens Stoltenberg, has instead been extended by a full year.

The U.K.’s exit from the European Union, which President Biden feels has had a negative impact on the U.K., has strained the transatlantic relationship in recent years. He expressed special worry about how Brexit will impact the peace process in Northern Ireland. When the U.K. and the EU came to an agreement in February to settle a difficult disagreement over trade laws for Northern Ireland, the only area of the U.K. sharing a border with an EU state, Washington was relieved.

In April, President Biden paid a quick visit to Belfast to mark the anniversary of the Good Friday peace accord in Northern Ireland. He then spent a few days in the Republic of Ireland, where his ancestors were born and raised. His statement about making sure”the Brits didn’t screw around” during his visit to Northern Ireland drew criticism from some in the U.K.

Although some British Conservatives are sensitive to perceived slights from the Democratic president, Prime Minister Sunak has been in office since October, and this will be President Biden’s sixth meeting with him. A “Atlantic Declaration,” which commits to further economic collaboration in fields including artificial intelligence, clean energy, and essential minerals, was gained by the British leader during a recent visit to Washington. This statement offered some solace for Brexit supporters who were disappointed that Britain was unable to negotiate a free trade agreement with the United States.

Standing next to the American president provides Prime Minister Sunak with a temporary reprieve from home problems brought on by a weak economy and internal party strife. Similar to President Biden, Sunak will be subject to electoral judgment in 2019 and has until late 2024 to call a general election. Many individuals are having trouble keeping up with the cost of living, and the governing Conservatives are trailing the Labour Party in polls due to U.K. inflation, which reached 8.7% in the year before May, which is double the U.S. rate.

King Charles, 74, has a chance to boost his reputation during this visit. While his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, met 13 American presidents and made over 100 state visits throughout her 70-year reign, he lacks her star power.

King’s College London royal historian George Gross asserts that despite Charles’ lack of actual political influence, the world’s obsession with the royal mystique has given him a significant amount of soft power. He explains that certain statements that the U.K. government can convey through Charles but might not have the same effect if made by the prime minister.

In conclusion:

President Biden’s visit to the UK includes conversations about environmental issues with King Charles III and the crisis in Ukraine with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Even though it wasn’t a full state visit, Windsor Castle’s setting highlights the significance of the transatlantic “special relationship.” The Biden administration has been prodded to take additional action by the U.K., which has been at the forefront of supporting Ukraine. Additionally, the trip offers an opportunity for the U.S. and the U.K. to address concerns and reinforce their alliance.