The White House stressed on Wednesday that Joe Biden discussed in his first call with Liz Truss the importance of resolving the Brexit row with the EU over Northern Ireland’s trading relationship.
The read-out of the talks by No10 and the White House between the US president and new Prime Minister were noticeably different.
Downing Street made no mention of the discussions focusing on striking a deal with Brussels on the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol.
As Foreign Secretary, Ms Truss threatened that Britain was ready to unilaterally tear up the protocol which effectively keeps Northern Ireland in the EU single market.
The protocol was signed by Boris Johnson when PM as part of his moves to get Brexit through Parliament despite warnings that it would create a border down the Irish Sea.
The UK government now argues that the EU is enforcing the protocol with burdensome and unnecessary restrictions, hitting trade between Britain and Northern Ireland.
Mr Biden, who has Irish heritage, has taken a strong stance on Brexit and the Northern Ireland trade deadlock, with Washington making clear that it is in no hurry to sign a US/UK free trade deal - which Leave leaders claimed during the 2016 referendum campaign could be done quickly.
On Brexit, the White House read-out of the call with Ms Truss states: “They also discussed their shared commitment to protecting the gains of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the importance of reaching a negotiated agreement with the European Union on the Northern Ireland Protocol.”
In contrast, No10’s statement was shorter, saying: ““The Prime Minister and President discussed a range of domestic issues and agreed on the importance of protecting the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.”
Both readouts of the president’s congratulatory call to Ms Truss also focused on a series of other global threats or challenges.
The White House stated: “The leaders reaffirmed the special relationship between our countries and expressed their readiness to further deepen those ties. President Biden and Prime Minister Truss discussed the importance of continued close cooperation on global challenges, including supporting Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression, addressing the challenges posed by China, preventing Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon, and securing sustainable and affordable energy resources.”
Downing Street said: “The President congratulated the Prime Minister on her appointment. The Prime Minister looked forward to working closely with President Biden as leaders of free democracies to tackle shared challenges, particularly the extreme economic problems unleashed by Putin’s war.
“The Prime Minister and President Biden reflected on the enduring strength of the Special Relationship. They agreed that the partnership between our countries, fortified by our shared values, has been crucial for defending and advancing freedom and democracy in the world.
“They agreed to build on those links, including by furthering our deep defence alliance through NATO and AUKUS. The leaders reinforced their commitment to strengthening global liberty, tackling the risks posed by autocracies and ensuring Putin fails in Ukraine.
“The Prime Minister and President Biden looked forward to meeting again soon.”
