London
US President Joe Biden and King Charles III, ageing leaders who have waited decades to reach the pinnacle of their careers, used their first meeting in their respective roles on Monday to highlight the generational issue of climate change as He inspired private companies to strengthen more. clean energy in developing countries
The carefully orchestrated gathering at Windsor Castle added substance to the type of meeting between the president and monarch that has historically been more about pomp and circumstance. Following arrival formalities, Biden and Charles participated in a climate-focused roundtable with officials from the financial and philanthropic sectors. John Kerry, the US envoy on climate, attended.
Charles, 74, who was crowned in May, has already made the environment a key part of his policy legacy and has long fought to protect wildlife and fight climate change. For his part, Biden identified climate change as one of four crises he was determined to tackle as president. He signed a comprehensive legislative package last year that includes nearly $375 billion in climate-related incentives.
Biden, 80, last held formal talks with the then Prince Charles in November 2021 at the COP26 UN climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. The US President also attended the state funeral of Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September. A reception for heads of state at Buckingham Palace the night before the service. Biden did not attend Charles’s coronation, sending First Lady Jill Biden in his place.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the president has “great respect” for King’s commitment, particularly on the climate issue. She added that Charles has been an “outspoken voice” on climate and “one who has taken proactive action and efforts.” “So the president has come to this with extreme goodwill,” Sullivan told reporters on Sunday as Biden flew to London.
Biden and Charles made sure to show off the warmth of their still-growing friendship during a formal arrival at Windsor Castle outside London. After their handshake, Biden placed his hand on Charles’s arm, then on the king’s back, as they approached a viewing platform to observe an honour guard. They appeared comfortable and cordial – a stark contrast to the more formal meetings between previous US presidents and British royalty. The late Queen Elizabeth II’s views on politics and political issues were a closely guarded secret, and her meetings with world leaders were almost entirely formal. Charles spent his decades as heir to the throne voicing opinions on issues ranging from architecture to the environment, and now that he’s king, he’s continued to take a keen interest in climate change.
Biden’s royal visit was coupled with his sixth meeting with the British prime minister since Rishi Sunak took office, with the two discussing a range of global issues including the war in Ukraine. Both countries are among Kyiv’s staunchest defenders, and the United Kingdom has pressed the White House to take more aggressive steps to provide military aid to Ukraine. Their conversation was meant to highlight the so-called enduring “special relationship” between the US and Britain. When Biden declined to attend Charles’s coronation, he promised the king in a phone call that he would come soon.
Before arriving at Windsor Castle, Biden sat down with Sunak at 10 Downing St., the prime minister’s residence in London, to discuss Ukraine and other matters, including the US president’s decision this week to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine. A weapon that more than two-thirds of the members of the NATO military alliance have banned given the potential threat to civilian life. Biden has said that providing the bombs – which open in the air and release small “bombs” over large swathes of land – was a “difficult decision”, but added that the Ukrainians are running out of ammunition and the weapons are essential. They would continue to fight the Russian forces.
“It took me a while to be convinced to do it,” Biden said in a CNN interview that aired while on a flight to London. “But the main thing is, either they have the weapons to stop the Russians… from stopping the Ukrainian offensive through these areas, or they don’t. And I think he needed them.” Sunak, on his part, has distanced himself from the US decision. The prime minister’s spokesman said the leaders talked Monday about Britain’s opposition to the use of cluster weapons. imposed on them because of Russia’s war of aggression.” “As the Prime Minister said over the weekend, the UK is a State Party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
