[Economics] Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak talked about peace, economy and the war in Ukraine

[Draeno]

 

 

 

US President Joe Biden assured this Wednesday that he is in Northern Ireland to "listen" and support the peace process in the British province, which is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, in a context in which the autonomous government institutions are suspended.

The Democratic president made these statements to the television cameras, at the beginning of a meeting in a Belfast hotel with the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, of just over 30 minutes, in which they drank tea and discussed various issues, according to the White House. There was no joint press conference and the president headed to the new Ulster University campus, his only public event in the region, to deliver a speech on the progress made in 25 years of peace and on investment opportunities in his economy.

US administration sources explained that Biden and Sunak did not address the issue of the free trade agreement between London and Washington, one of the objectives set by the British government after Brexit, after a spokesman had already cooled the prospect of a short term approach.

In a meeting with the media in Belfast, the director for Europe of the National Security Council of the United States, Amanda Sloat, pointed out that the two leaders discussed "various economic issues", the situation in Northern Ireland and the war in Ukraine. Sloat insisted that the president wants to see Northern Ireland's government institutions restored, but added that the "main focus" of his visit is to celebrate the Good Friday Agreement, the text that ended the conflict.

In this sense, it is expected that Biden, of Irish origin, will take advantage of the incentive of US investment in the region to urge the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), a second formation, to return to the power-sharing government, suspended for more than one year. The DUP refuses to enter an Executive led by the nationalist Sinn Féin, the first force, due to its rejection of the post-Brexit trade arrangements for the province, agreed upon by London and Brussels in the Windsor Framework.

According to the White House, before leaving for Dublin today, Biden will also "have the opportunity to interact" with "each" of the leaders of the five major regional parties. Now, there will be no "formal group meeting" as a result of their differences over Brexit.

 

https://www.elespectador.com/mundo/europa/joe-biden-y-rishi-sunak-hablaron-de-paz-economia-y-sobre-la-guerra-en-ucrania-noticias-de-hoy/