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Today’s daily politics briefing
Britain must protect peace in Northern Ireland from the fallout of Brexit, the US’ top diplomat has said.
Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, said that while the US had “no closer partner” than the UK, Washington was adamant that the Good Friday Agreement should not become a casualty of the departure from the EU. He was speaking at the first G7 meeting of foreign ministers since the coronavirus pandemic began.
Meanwhile, the European Union has stolen a march on Britain with plans to announce a new trade deal with India.
The pact could be announced as early as the weekend, while Boris Johnson’s government has been able to announce only an enhanced partnership, worth about £1bn, as the precursor to a possible wider deal.
UK must protect Northern Ireland peace deal, US says
The United States has “no closer ally, no closer partner” than Britain – but the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland must be protected post-Brexit, president Joe Biden’s top diplomat said in a visit to London on Monday.
“We’re connected. It’s often said but always important to reaffirm,” secretary of state Antony Blinken told a Downing Street news conference.
“We’re connected by ties of friendship, family, history, shared values, and shared sacrifice.”
But in between warm talk of a special relationship, there was a warning that the 1998 peace deal covering terms of the border between the UK and Ireland must be upheld despite the problems faced since Brexit.
Jon Sharman4 May 2021 07:16
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