Biden meets with UK’s Johnson ahead of G-7

President Biden on Thursday met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ahead of the Group of Seven (G-7) summit this weekend in the United Kingdom. 

The two leaders exchanged pleasantries in front of reporters before heading into a closed-door meeting with staff. They did not divulge what they would discuss, though they’re expected to talk about the coronavirus pandemic and the global economy.

“I’m thrilled to meet your wife. I told the prime minister we have something in common: We both married above our station,” Biden said.

“I’m not going to disagree with the president on that or anything else,” Johnson said.

Biden was accompanied during the bilateral meeting by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, coronavirus response coordinate Jeff Zients and other members of his national security team.

Johnson was joined by Foreign Affairs Secretary Dominic Raab, U.K. Ambassador to the U.S. Karen Pierce and multiple national security and foreign affairs advisers.

Ahead of the meeting, Biden and Johnson viewed the Atlantic Charter, a document from 1941 detailing the partnership between the U.S. and the U.K. The leaders are expected to announce a renewal of the charter on Thursday.

Biden and Johnson held their bilateral meeting a day before the G-7 commences, where they will be joined by the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.

Biden later Thursday is expected to detail plans for the U.S. to donate 500 million vaccine doses to other countries.