‘Atlantic declaration’ moves UK firmly into US economic orbit but falls far short of full trade deal Tories promised in 2019 Rishi Sunak and Joe Biden have announced a deal for transatlantic cooperation that moves the UK firmly into the US administration’s economic orbit and marks a revival in ties after the turbulence of Brexit. Unveiling the so-called “Atlantic declaration” at a joint press conference with Biden at the White House, Sunak was explicit that the closer links were designed to bolster economic security in response to threats from China and Russia ..read more

The US president, Joe Biden, told reporters that the relationship between the US and the UK was in 'real good shape', during a meeting with the British prime minister, Rishi Sunak, at the White House. Sunak had flown to Washington two days before, where he met senior politicians and dozen of business leaders before holding the bilateral meeting with Biden on Thursday. Sunak said: 'It's daunting to think of the conversations that our predecessors had in this room, when they had to speak of wars that they fought together, peace won together.' He added: 'Again, for the first time in over half a c ..read more

Equipment that could be exploited by Chinese intelligence will be taken down, with CCTV brands Hikvision and Dahua among those flagged by MPs Britain has announced the removal of Chinese-made surveillance equipment from sensitive government sites as part of plans to address concerns they could be used for spying by China. The government told its departments last year to stop installing Chinese-linked CCTV cameras in sensitive buildings ..read more

Britain’s alliance with Washington would be stronger if the PM cultivated better relations with continental neighbours The alliance between Britain and the US, resting on deep foundations of shared history and strategic interest, is not overly affected by the personal relationship between a prime minister and a president. Sometimes individual affinity is consequential, as when Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan were aligned over cold war doctrine, or when Tony Blair put Britain in lockstep with George W Bush for the march to war in Iraq. But there is no prospect of Rishi Sunak forming such a ..read more

The prime minister arrives in Washington with no real leverage in Europe – and therefore no real leverage with Joe Biden The Americans know how to make a prime minister feel special. It isn’t hard. Saying “you are special” or words to that effect, usually does the trick. It helps to say it in the White House, within earshot of the British press corps. Westminster hacks and Downing Street aides, most of whom are unhealthily obsessed with US politics, love a Washington summit for the same reason that Harry Potter fans queue to visit the Warner Bros studio in Watford. Standing on the stage where ..read more

Readers respond to a piece by Martin Kettle about an exhibition in Berlin that explores 14 alternative histories for Germany Martin Kettle’s piece about an exhibition in Berlin on pivotal moments in German history will, I hope, start a debate about such British moments (What would Britain look like today if we’d chosen to follow the roads not taken?, 31 May). May I suggest that the decision to go to war in 1914 is one such? The enormous loss of young British lives and the economic damage to the country still reverberate. And could we please have an exhibition in London like the one in Berlin ..read more

Shadow foreign secretary says Britain risks isolation in global debates on China, AI and climate crisis Rishi Sunak has demonstrated a “little England mentality” in foreign relations, David Lammy has argued, warning the UK risks marginalising itself in vital global debates on China, AI and the climate emergency. Speaking shortly before Sunak heads to Washington for a meeting with Joe Biden, the shadow foreign secretary said cuts to areas such as overseas aid, the British Council and BBC World Service were further hampering the UK’s soft power and making it appear even more insular ..read more

Defence minister is also believed to have raised concerns about the ongoing detention of Australian citizens and human rights issues Follow our live blog for the latest news updates Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast Australian defence minister Richard Marles has met his Chinese counterpart and called for “safe and professional interactions” between military planes and ships in the Indo-Pacific region. Marles is also believed to have raised concerns about the ongoing detention of Australian citizens and human rights issues during talks with China’s defe ..read more

From Boris Johnson to Rishi Sunak, no one in government has anything to hide… • You can order your own copy of this cartoon ..read more

Youssef Mikhaiel is at risk of forced removal to Egypt before he marries Sarah Bradley A couple planning to marry soon could be forcibly separated by the Home Office because they are not cohabiting before their wedding. Sarah Bradley, 29, a British digital marketing teacher, and Youssef Mikhaiel, 28, an Egyptian man who graduated from the University of Glasgow with a degree in aeronautical engineering, met in February 2022 through a Christian dating app ..read more