US President Joe Biden is set to welcome British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday as the British leader makes his first visit to the White House as prime minister. The talks between the two leaders in the Oval Office are expected to cover the Ukraine war, China, economic security, international cooperation on regulating the growing field of artificial intelligence, and other issues.
Biden and Sunak have had four face-to-face meetings since Sunak became prime minister in October. The talks in Washington will give the two leaders another opportunity for sustained dialogue. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Russia’s 15-month invasion of Ukraine would be a key issue in the talks.
The US and Britain are the biggest donors to Ukraine’s war effort and have had a central role in plans announced last month for a long-term effort to equip Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets and train their pilots. Rishi seeks Biden’s consent to appoint UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace to replace outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Stoltenberg’s term ends in September, leading the 31-member coalition.
Stoltenberg is due to meet Biden in Washington on Monday, and the leaders of the coalition countries are due to gather for their annual summit in Lithuania on July 11-12. “The President and the Prime Minister will discuss important emerging technologies as well as our work to strengthen our economic security and joint US-UK leadership,” he said.
