Biden eyes ‘coalition of the West’ if Brexit deal reached
US president-elect hopes to see agreement between Britain and EU in response to challenge of China
‘They absolutely accept the referendum took place. They want a positive outcome and it’s in everybody’s interest’
ALLIES of Joe Biden have made clear he expects to see a Brexit trade deal concluded swiftly as he seeks to rebuild a “coalition of the West” to respond to the growing spectre of China.
The Daily Telegraph understands that John Kerry, who has been appointed as Mr Biden’s climate envoy, has signalled that the administration wants a “positive outcome” from the talks. It suggests Mr Biden’s incoming administration is ratcheting up pressure on Mr Johnson to strike a deal as officials seek a compromise on fishing rights and “level playing field” guarantees for business.
While both sides hope a deal could be struck as early as next week, the UK insisted it was prepared to walk away if Brussels failed to soften its red lines. However, Mr Biden reiterated that he did not want to see a “guarded border” on the island of Ireland due to no deal. The Government’s Internal Market Bill has no-deal clauses related to Northern Ireland overriding the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, which prevents a hard border. A trade deal with Brussels would remove the need for the clauses.
Although Mr Johnson has reassured the president-elect that he is committed to preventing a hard border, Mr Biden told reporters that “the idea of having a border north and south once again being closed is just not right”.
A senior EU diplomat warned that if there was a no-deal Brexit, he expected Mr Biden to move to swiftly force Britain back to the negotiating table. “No deal is more sustainable for the EU than the UK and don’t rule out very heavy pressure on the UK by a Biden administration in the US,” the diplomat said.
Speaking to The Telegraph last night, Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Commons defence committee, said Mr Biden wanted to settle the Brexit conundrum and shift the West’s focus to more pressing global threats. Mr Ellwood, who has been in touch with Mr Kerry in recent days, added: “They absolutely accept that the referendum took ook place. They want to see a positive outcome and it’s in everybody’s interest for that to happen. [Mr Biden’s] priority will be to build alliances to meet the growing challenges and threats that this era of instability is now throwing at us.
“That is far better achieved with Britain and the EU working together alongside the US. He wants to rebuild a coalition of the West to inject clearer Western resolve.”
His comments were echoed by Neale Richmond, the European spokesman for Fine Gael, a coalition partner in the Irish government, who said: “President-elect Biden’s opinions on Brexit are well known and he has been vocal on his desire to see a deal between the EU and the UK. From an Irish point of view, the president-elect has a long-standing commitment to peace on this island, dating back to his work as a senator.”
Mr Biden held telephone talks on Monday with senior EU figures, including Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, and Charles Michel, European Council president.
“The US, Ireland and the EU have been adamant throughout that Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement cannot be used as a chess piece by the Johnson administration in the trade negotiations with the EU,” EU, a senior
Irish source said.