Biden kicks off European tour, starts in London ahead of NATO Summit.

LONDON, UK—President Joe Biden embarks on an exciting 5-day trip to Europe, starting with his first stop in the United Kingdom. There, he will have the honor of meeting King Charles III at the magnificent Windsor Castle and engage in discussions with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

But that’s just the beginning. Mr. Biden will then join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital. This two-day summit will bring together NATO leaders to tackle the pressing challenges of our time, including rising security threats from Russia and the urgent climate crisis.

After the summit, the president will travel to Helsinki to commemorate Finland’s accession to the military alliance.

However, Mr. Biden’s visit to Europe has been overshadowed by his recent decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine, a move that has raised concerns among human rights groups. These weapons are prohibited by over 100 countries, including key European allies like the UK, France, and Germany.

According to a report by the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, 97 percent of cluster munition casualties are civilians, with children being the most affected. Amnesty International has strongly condemned the decision, highlighting the grave threat these munitions pose to civilian lives even after the conflict has ended.

Despite these challenges, Mr. Biden is determined to address these issues during his engagements in London and Vilnius.

Meeting with King Charles

On Monday, the president is scheduled to join King Charles for a ceremonial arrival and inspection of the Honor Guard at the historic Windsor Castle. This iconic castle, which has been the home of British kings and queens for over 1,000 years, will also host a climate engagement event with philanthropists and investors.

Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the UK’s sovereigns, is currently undergoing renovations and is not available for the meeting between Biden and King Charles. The palace is expected to be ready for the monarch’s move-in by 2027, after a comprehensive repair and restoration project.

During his visit to Windsor Castle, Mr. Biden will also participate in a forum focused on mobilizing climate finance and clean energy deployment in developing countries. This highlights the president’s commitment to addressing the urgent issue of climate change.

Additionally, the President will meet with Prime Minister Sunak at 10 Downing Street, the official residence and office of the UK leader. This meeting will further strengthen the bilateral relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.

It’s worth noting that this will be the sixth meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Sunak since Sunak assumed office in October.

NATO Summit

This year’s NATO summit in Vilnius is of utmost importance, with some considering it the most significant gathering since the Cold War or even since NATO’s establishment in 1949.

Ukraine is expected to be a major topic of discussion at the summit, as allies come together to address the situation in the country.