Sep 15, 2021 - Politics & Policy

Scoop: Biden to host Boris Johnson at the White House next week

Biden at the White House, leaning into a lectern

President Biden speaks at the White House during a virtual event with U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

President Biden plans to host British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the White House next week, according to people familiar with the preparations.

Why it matters: Rewarding Johnson with a White House visit is another indication that the two leaders plan to work collaboratively on COVID-19, China and climate change.

  • The meeting, scheduled for early next week, will be part of a busy week of diplomacy for Biden as he also prepares to host a COVID-19 summit on the sidelines of the United Nations' annual gathering.
  • Biden also is to host the leaders of Australia, India and Japan on Sept. 24 at the White House for a meeting of the so-called Quad alliance.

The big picture: Biden and Johnson worked closely at the G7 summit in Cornwall in June to convince other countries to adopt a unified approach to countering China's rising global influence. They're also working in close concert to prepare the climate summit in Glasgow in November.

  • Earlier today, Biden held a virtual meeting with Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to announce a new partnership to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
Go deeper