Working together to make a powerful difference in world affairs, United States of America and United Kingdom today reaffirmed stronger alliance in the 21st century.
In his remarks with Foreign Secretary William Hague after their meeting in London, Secretary of State John Kerry says one thing that binds the United States and Great Britain is a special relationship, a partnership of the heart.
Mr. Kerry points out that both countries thrived together in peace and stood together time and time again in order to meet the world’s great challenges.
In the 21st century, Mr. Kerry says both countries face new and a more complex set of challenges, but together, it is absolutely clear that US-UK partnership remains stronger than ever.
According to Mr. Kerry, both discussed a very full agenda that reflects the many benefits and the relationships that bring both of our peoples and the world together, from countering terrorism to creating jobs to advancing shared values.
Both countries discussed historic agreement in its beginnings and that is to start the work on a U.S-EU transatlantic trade and investment partnership to grow prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic.
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, and the President of the United States, Barack Obama, wave from the South Portico Balcony alongside their wives, Samantha and Michelle in March 2012.
However, Mr. Kerry explains that Europe freestanding alone is the largest economy in the world.
And when UKs join that together with the United States of America, they have a powerful ability to be able to affect the rules of the road and to be able to raise standards and, most importantly, create jobs for all of their people.
Europe is already America’s largest trading partner, and this agreement will create more jobs, spur additional investment., he added.
Both countries also discussed the responsibility that both share to support fragile democracies across the world, across the Maghreb, from Libya to Tunisia and beyond.
Mr. Kerry notes that it is in US mutual interest to see that these fledgling democracies flourish.
Ronald Reagan with close ally and personal friend, Margaret Thatcher at Aspen Lodge, Camp David, 1984.
According to Mr. Kerry, both countries agree that the Syrian people deserve better than the horrific violence that now invades and threatens their everyday lives– the lives of innocent people, the lives of people who simply want an ability to have their government be accountable and to be able to be part of the governance of their own lives.
He reiterates that the Assad regime has rained down rockets on Aleppo in recent days, and that is just the latest example of Assad’s brutality.
Both countries condemn this indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians, and we condemn it in the strongest terms.
Mr. Kerry cites US is grateful for UK’s effort to help dial up the pressure on the regime, for their contributions of humanitarian aid, and for hosting the transition conference last month.
Both countries also pledged to continue to work closely to address the growing humanitarian crisis, and to support the Syrian Opposition Council.
Both countries are coordinating with the Syrian Opposition Coalition, and both are coordinating with the UN, and with others in order to help get relief to the victims who need that help.
According to Mr. Kerry, both US and UK discussed discussed on a couple of occasions Iran’s nuclear program and P-5+1 talks with Iran that take place in Kazakhstan.
He notes both US and UK have stated that Iran will not obtain a nuclear weapon.
He adds President Obama has been crystal clear about this and both countries repeatedly made clear, the window for a diplomatic solution simply cannot by definition remain open forever.
Both countries are prepared to negotiate in good faith, in mutual respect, in an effort to avoid whatever terrible consequences could follow failure.
Both countries also discussed also their partnership in Afghanistan.
The US is grateful for the sacrifices of British people and the contribution of their remarkable troops.
He says both countries need to continue to remain in close coordination as both tackle the very important upcoming transition.
Both countries affirms that 2013 will be an important year for Afghanistan, where U.S. and UK troops continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder.
According to Mr. Kerry, both countries share a vision of two states living side by side in peace and security for Israel and Palestine.
Both countries are attach to ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Both agree that there is no more urgent foreign policy priority in 2013 than restarting negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
Both countries also assert that the region and the world can’t afford the current dangerous impasse in the peace process; for if they don’t make progress very soon, then the two-state solution could become impossible to achieve.
With the long history of partnership and collaboration, the United States and Great Britain have made countries both stronger, and made the world more stable and secure.
Mr. Kerry says they meet with a special commitment to the effort to do their work to make the world yet safer and more stable and a place of greater opportunity and peace for all peoples.