US President Joe Biden speaks to UK’s Boris Johnson in first call to a European leader

Johnson tweeted: ‘I look forward to deepening the long-standing alliance between our two countries as we drive a green and sustainable recovery from Covid-19’
The leaders also discussed the benefits of a potential free trade deal and Johnson committed to resolving trade issues as soon as possible

Joe Biden

dpa

Published: 6:40am, 24 Jan 2021

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US President Joe Biden has spoken to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in his first call to a European leader since his inauguration, discussing the coronavirus pandemic, climate change and security.

Johnson said it was “great” to speak to Biden. “I look forward to deepening the long-standing alliance between our two countries as we drive a green and sustainable recovery from Covid-19,” he wrote on Twitter on Saturday evening.

A Downing Street spokesperson said the two leaders also discussed the benefits of a potential free-trade deal and Johnson committed to resolving trade issues as soon as possible.

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Britain is seeking new deals after its post-Brexit transition period ended and it officially left the European Union’s internal market and customs union this month.

The White House did not mention any trade discussions in a later confirmation of the call, but said Biden conveyed his intentions to strengthen the special Britain-US relationship and revitalise transatlantic ties. He also underscored support for Nato.

Biden’s first call to a foreign leader after his inauguration was to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday.

The two agreed to have a meeting next month to work on “renewing the deep and enduring friendship between Canada and the United States”, Trudeau‘s office said.

The White House said the leaders talked about reinvigorating cooperation on combating the pandemic, defence, economic ties and global leadership to address climate change.

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Biden and Trudeau discussed their shared vision for sustainable economic recovery and agreed to cooperate to achieve net-zero emissions.

Biden also acknowledged Trudeau‘s disappointment at his decision to rescind the permit for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, the White House said.

In one of his first actions as president, Biden revoked the permit issued in March 2019 for the pipeline, which would have carried oil from Canada to the US, stating that its construction was not consistent with his administration‘s economic and climate goals.

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Also on Friday, Biden spoke to Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

The two leaders discussed migration among other topics and Biden described his plan to reverse the “draconian” immigration policies of the previous administration, the White House said.

Biden plans to slow illegal migration through providing aid to countries of origin, among other measures.

Biden told Lopez Obrador the US would support Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador with 4 billion dollars to combat the causes of migration, the Mexican president said in a Saturday speech.

The vast majority of people who attempt to make unauthorised crossings into the US via its southern border with Mexico come from those three countries.

Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump had halted millions of dollars of financial help in a bid to push those countries to prevent their citizens from migrating towards the US.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Biden chooses Johnson for his first call to EuropeBiden speaks to Johnson in first presidential call to European leader