Boris Johnson and Joe Biden do what Churchill and Roosevelt did 80 years ago

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and United States President Joe Biden met ahead of the G7 summit, during which they discussed the future course of their relationship. During their meeting, which lasted more than an hour, the two leaders signed a new Atlantic Charter, vowed to uphold commitments and aspirations of the previous agreement signed 80 years ago by Winston Churchill and Franklin D Roosevelt. 

The charter, mainly aimed at countries like China and Russia, seeks to defend 'enduring values' and promises to promote free trade, human rights, a rules-based international border, and to counter those who seek to undermine shared alliances and institutions.

According to 10 Downing Street (British Prime Minister's residence) spokesperson, the charter signals a new kind of relationship between the two countries that indicates further cooperation, especially with a free trade agreement that will bring employment opportunities and prosperity to both countries. 

The spokesperson also that both the leaders hope to spread their values to the rest of the world as well as protecting their countries together. Some other topics covered were foreign policy issues involving Afghanistan, China, Iran and Russia. 

Additionally, Biden and Johnson discussed the road to normalcy and rebuilding their nations after the devastation caused by the Coronavirus pandemic and growing climate change concerns. 

The new charter also aims at countering disinformation in elections, and economic practices by China and Russia deemed to be fraudulent by the West. 

Johnson was reportedly delighted by the talk and called Biden a breath of fresh air and commented how similar both of their aims were in regards to NATO, climate change and security. 

• Boris Johnson
• Churchill
• Joe Biden
• Roosevelt
• Atlantic Charter
• US UK relations
• International news