Biden and Johnson discuss pandemic, NATO and trade in first phone call



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President Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday discussed issues such as trade, NATO and the coronavirus pandemic in their first phone call since the inauguration of the US leader.

Why is this important: A new trade deal with the United States is a priority for Johnson, whose country completed its economic split with the European Union late last year, AP noted.

What they say: Biden “has signaled his intention to strengthen the privileged relations between our countries and revitalize transatlantic ties, stressing NATO’s critical role in our collective defense and our common values,” said a reading of the call for the White House.

  • President Biden also stressed the importance of cooperation, including through multilateral organizations, on common challenges such as tackling climate change, containing COVID-19 and ensuring health security. global, ”the read added.

A Downing Street Declaration said Biden and Johnson have also “discussed the benefits of a possible free trade agreement between our two countries, and the prime minister reiterated his intention to resolve existing trade issues as soon as possible.”

  • “The Prime Minister warmly welcomed the President’s decision to join the Paris Agreement on climate change, as well as the World Health Organization and the COVAX program to ensure equitable access to vaccines,” the statement added.

The big picture: Biden’s conversation with Johnson came a day after the US President spoke to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican Andrés Manuel López Obrador on separate phone calls.

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