President Biden to make first overseas trip to UK, Belgium in June

Washington, Apr 23 (EFE).- United States President Joe Biden will make his first foreign trip in June to the United Kingdom and Belgium, the White House said Friday.

Any US president’s first overseas trip is considered symbolic of American foreign policy priorities.

By choosing Europe as his first destination as the US president, Biden has signaled that transatlantic ties are in the vanguard of his diplomatic agenda.

“This trip will highlight his commitment to restoring our alliances, revitalizing the transatlantic relationship,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.

Psaki stressed that the US government had chosen the UK as the first destination to show the “special relationship” between the two countries.

Biden will attend the G7 Summit in Cornwall, UK, from June 11-13.

Psaki said the president would reinforce the US commitment to multilateralism, advance key policy priorities on public health, economic recovery, and climate change, and demonstrate solidarity and shared values among major democracies.

She said the president would also hold bilateral meetings with fellow G7 leaders, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The White House spokesperson avoided a comment when a journalist referred to Biden’s 2019 remarks, calling Johnson a “physical and emotional clone” of then-President Donald Trump.

The press secretary also did not confirm if Biden will have a meeting with the Queen of England.

In Brussels, the US president will participate in the NATO summit on June 14.

“President Biden will affirm the United States’ commitment to NATO, transatlantic security, and collective defense,” Psaki said.

She said NATO leaders would discuss how to orient the alliance to future threats and ensure effective burden-sharing

The president will also hold bilateral meetings with fellow NATO leaders.

Psaki said the US government intended to ask the rest of the NATO partners to increase their contributions to this alliance.

In Brussels, Biden will participate in a US–EU Summit, underscoring Washington’s “commitment to a strong transatlantic partnership based on shared interests and values,” Psaki said.

She said the leaders would discuss a common agenda to ensure global health security, stimulate global economic recovery, tackle climate change, enhance digital and trade cooperation, strengthen democracy, and address mutual foreign policy concerns. EFE

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