Biden speaks to leaders of UK, France, Germany

US President-elect Joe Biden has spoken to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, leaders of three of the United States’ most important European allies.

Johnson’s support for Brexit and warm relationship with President Donald Trump have made many Democrats wary, but he is nonetheless among the first European leaders to congratulate Biden in a phone call.

Johnson’s office says the two men “discussed the close and longstanding relationship” between the two countries and promised to strengthen those bonds in areas including trade and security. In the 25-minute call, they also promised to work on “shared priorities, from tackling climate change to promoting democracy and building back better from the coronavirus pandemic,” Downing St. says.

— AP