As Joe Biden met Rishi Sunak in No. 10, he called the alliance between the US and the UK “rock-solid.”
In his official vehicle, known as the “Beast” because of its size, Mr. Biden arrived at Downing Street during a stopover in London on his way to the Nato summit in Lithuania.
The president lauded the strong links between the two countries as the leaders conversed in the garden of the prime minister.
According to him, he “couldn’t be meeting with a closer friend and a greater ally.”
Mr Sunak, meanwhile, said the pair would continue talks on how the UK and US can ‘strengthen our co-operation, our joint economic security, to the benefit of our citizens’.
Mr Biden, on his first visit to No 10 as president, ignored questions from reporters, during the meet-up, which happened just weeks after Mr Sunak’s trip to Washington.
Although both leaders emphasised the closeness of their relationship, the US not currently backing Ukraine’s bid to join Nato and their decision to provide Kyiv with controversial cluster munitions, are signs the two countries differ on some international matters.
The president has defended what he described as the ‘difficult’ decision to send the munitions to Ukraine.
Mr Sunak responded by saying Britain ‘discourages’ their use as one of 123 signatories of a convention banning the bombs, but Downing Street did not say whether the PM would raise the issue today.
It’s believed Ukraine’s ambitions for Nato membership will be discussed at the upcoming summit in Vilnius tomorrow.
All attendees agree Ukraine should not become a member while still at war, but the US appears to be the most reluctant to see the country join at all in the near future.
MrBidenhas described Kyiv’s bid as ‘premature’, telling CNN: ‘I don’t think it’s ready for membership in Nato.’
Britain, on the other hand, has indicated support for a fast-track approach for Ukraine.
It comes weeks after Sweden and Finland were officially invited to join the alliance.
Mr Biden arrived at Downing Street just after 10.30am today, with a heavy security presence, and the two men spoke for around 40 minutes.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and several senior national security advisers were among those also attending.
The president has also met King Charles today at Windsor Castle for tea and talks on the climate crisis.
Though it is not a full-blown state visit, he was treated to a display of pomp and pageantry.
The US leader received a royal salute and heard the US national anthem, courtesy of the Welsh Guards, before having tea with Charles.