PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer meeting with President Biden of the United States [September 2024]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 14 September 2024.

The Prime Minister and U.S. President Joe Biden held talks at the White House this afternoon.

The leaders both welcomed the opportunity for an in-depth discussion on a wide range of foreign policy issues, including the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific.

With both conflicts continuing, they agreed that now was the time for a more detailed discussion focused on immediate co-operation as well as long-term strategy over the next few months.

On Ukraine, they heard from the Foreign Secretary and the U.S. Secretary of State about their recent visit to Kyiv. They updated on the courageous campaign of the Ukrainians to defend their territory and deter Russian aggression. They strongly condemned the transfer of lethal weapons to Russia from North Korea and Iran.

Both leaders agreed on the importance of sustaining support to Ukraine in all aspects, including military, economic and diplomatic, for as long as it takes for Russia to withdraw.

On the Middle East, they discussed the urgent need for a ceasefire deal, the imperative of ensuring much greater flows of humanitarian aid into Gaza and the deeply concerning escalation in the West Bank – including settlement expansion and increasing settler violence. They agreed to work together to tackle these concerns. The Prime Minister reiterated his view that the only viable long-term solution to this conflict is the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel, that provides security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

They moved on to discuss the Indo-Pacific region and agreed on the vital importance of our global defence partnerships, including AUKUS.

They agreed to continue their discussions.