President Joe Biden and new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held a telephone call on Tuesday, during which the two leaders discussed key issues such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the ongoing energy crisis, challenges posed by China and the Northern Ireland Protocol. rice field.
According to the White House read out Biden also congratulated Snack on his new role as Prime Minister after being appointed Secretary of the Treasury by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on October 25.
The two leaders “reaffirmed the special relationship between the two countries and underscored their desire to further strengthen cooperation on issues critical to global security and prosperity,” the statement said.
They also “agreed on the importance of working together to support Ukraine, hold Russia accountable for its aggression, address challenges posed by China, and secure sustainable and affordable energy resources. did”.
Finally, Biden and Snack also spoke about their “shared commitment to safeguarding the interests of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the need to maintain momentum to reach a negotiated agreement with the European Union on the Northern Ireland Protocol.” have been discussed, the White House said.
The call comes at a time when the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland remains a key unresolved issue even after the UK leaves the EU, commonly referred to as ‘Brexit’ on 31 January 2020. was broken.
Under Brexit, a special agreement on trade agreements, also known as the Northern Ireland Protocol, was drawn up for Northern Ireland. This will ensure that Northern Ireland remains a single market for EU goods and avoids harsh borders.
However, the protocol will create new trade borders between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
Peace deal under threat
of Northern Ireland Protocol It was necessary because Northern Ireland shares borders with the Republic of Ireland and the EU and has a history of violent sectarian conflict. I was afraid that it would cause difficulties for many companies.
The UK and EU therefore agree that preserving the 1998 Northern Ireland Peace Accord (also known as the Good Friday Agreement, which ended the political conflict in Northern Ireland and established the capital of the current government system in Belfast) would help to support Brexit. Agreed that it is essential to manage.
EU leaders have said the peace deal is now underway after the UK government introduced a controversial plan in June to void parts of the deal to simplify the flow of goods between the UK and Northern Ireland. I warned you that you were under threat.
plans are in progress Discussed in the House of Lords The EU has announced legal action against the UK over the bill, which EU leaders say violates international law.
At 42, Sunak became the youngest British prime minister in over 200 years. When stepping into the role last week, the new leader vowed to correct mistakes he said his predecessor, Liz Truss, had made.
his first speech Sunak, who became prime minister on Tuesday after accepting an invitation to form a government in the name of King Charles III, said he would “put economic stability and confidence at the heart of this government’s agenda” and crack down on border controls. , promised to “accept the Brexit opportunity”. But he warned that his government would have to make “hard decisions” to curb the surge in government debt and deal with inflation.
“Together we can accomplish incredible things,” said Sunak. “We will create a future worthy of the sacrifices so many have made, filling tomorrow and every day after that with hope.”
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Katabella Roberts is a news writer for The Epoch Times, focusing primarily on US, world and business news.