Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2023

July 10, 2023

President Biden. All the flowers bloomed.

Prime Minister Sunak. Well, Joe, welcome. It's great to have you here, back in Downing Street. I thinkâyou've been here a few times before, I know, but your first time as President. So we're very privileged and fortunate to have you here. Thanks for coming.

Great for us to carry on our conversations, which we were having just a month or so ago, it feels like, in the White House, where we signed the Atlantic Declaration, the first-of-its-kind economic partnership, which I know we'll be talking about today: how do we strengthen our cooperation, joint economic security to the benefit of our citizens.

But also, we head from here to NATO in Vilnius, where we stand as two of the firmest allies in that alliance. And I know we'll want to do everything we can to strengthen Euro-Atlantic security.

But great pleasure to have you here

President Biden. It's good to be back. You know, we've only been meeting once a month. [Laughter] This isâwe met in San Diego, Belfast, Hiroshima, Washington, here. And couldn't be meeting with a closer friend and a greater ally.

And we've got a lot to talk about, and I think we're doing well. I think we're moving along in a way that is positive, but our relationship is rock solid between the United States, Great Britain. And I look forward to our discussions.

Prime Minister Sunak. Yes, me too. Great to have you here. Thanks very much.

Q. Mr. President, how was the call with President Erdogan?

Q. Do you plan to come back for the AI summit, Mr. President?

Q. Are you confident that you will be able to get approval from Turkey this week?

[*As reporters were ushered out of the meeting, Prime Minister Sunak showed President Biden two coffee mugs on the small wicker table between them.*]

Prime Minister Sunak. So, Joe, we've got these special mugs here. These are our special new Downing Street mugs.

President Biden. Oh, new Downing Street mugs.

Prime Minister Sunak. Weânew mugs. So I'm hoping there's something in there.

President Biden. There is.

Prime Minister Sunak. There's tea in there; it's reallyâI'm assuming it's iced tea.

President Biden. Hear, hear.

[*President Biden displayed his mug to reporters.*] *President Biden. *They're new Downing Street mugs.

Q. Mr. President, how was your call with President Erdogan?

NOTE: The President spoke at 10:47 a.m. in the garden at 10 Downing Street. A reporter referred to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.

Categories: Meetings With Foreign Leaders and International Officials : United Kingdom, Prime Minister Sunak.

Locations: London, United Kingdom.

Names: Sunak, Rishi.

Subjects: United Kingdom, President Biden's visit; United Kingdom, Prime Minister; United Kingdom, relations with U.S.

DCPD Number: DCPD202300608.