In recent days, President Biden’s visit has been cast by the British press as a rushed stop, almost an afterthought, on his way to the Nato summit in Vilnius. True, it omits travel north for a game of golf or lavish dinners, but at a time of a land war in Europe on a scale not seen since 1945, Biden’s visit should be seen for what it is: a trip that respects the gravity of the moment.
At the meeting with Rishi Sunak, critical decisions in Vilnius about the future membership of Nato and the announcement that the US will supply cluster munitions to Ukraine were sure to be on the agenda. Addressing climate change, a top priority shared by both the King and President Biden, was bound to be at the heart of discussions at their Windsor Castle meeting.
