US President Joe Biden is on the first foreign trip of his presidency, kick-starting series of summits with G7, European and NATO partners before a face-to-face with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
From there, in rapid succession, Biden will visit Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle, fly to Brussels for summits with the NATO military alliance and European Union, then finish up in Geneva, where he meets Putin next Wednesday.
Part of Biden’s agenda features the even bigger task of shoring up a somewhat-tattered group of democracies against Russia and China.
Writing in the Washington Post at the weekend, Mr Biden said that the visit would examine how democracies can come together and deliver “real results for our people in a rapidly changing world.
He said this trip is about realising America’s renewed commitment to our allies and partners, and demonstrating the capacity of democracies to both meet the challenges and deter the threats of this new age.”
Responding to criticism of his decision to meet Mr Putin in person, the president said that the US “does not seek conflict” with Russia but will “not hesitate to respond to future harmful activities”.
Biden will be accompanied by an entourage of officials, advisers and journalists, including secretary of state Antony Blinken and national security advisor Jake Sullivan.
Among the issues expected to be raised during Mr Biden’s bilateral meeting with the British prime minister is the ongoing impasse over the Northern Ireland protocol.
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