As the G7 Summit begins today, the Prime Minister and President Biden agreed a revitalised Atlantic Charter which will see strengthened security cooperation between our nations and a new partnership on science and technology  – marking a historic new era of cooperation with our closest ally, creating jobs and protecting our security.

The US is our closest ally and in the 80 years since the first Atlantic Charter was signed the world has changed, meaning it is vital that we reconsider the cooperation between our two countries in the face of new technologies and emerging threats. That is why the Government has agreed a new, revitalised Atlantic Charter to strengthen cooperation in key areas. Under the framework of this revitalised Charter, our two countries have agreed:

• We will strengthen our ties in science and technology with a landmark partnership in which both nations will invest in our technological and scientific expertise and lead the world in research and development, working together to ensure technology is used as a force for good in the world and using technology to create prosperity and jobs and guarantee the safety and security of citizens for years to come.
• We will take steps to enhance our bilateral defence and security partnership to respond to the evolving threats of the 21st century, including by strengthening and modernising NATO and increasing its common funding; modernising and integrating our armed forces; working together to ensure Space is a safe and secure area for all; and bolstering our security cooperation to better combat terrorism.
• The Prime Minister and President also agreed our two nations can take this renewed cooperation further by expanding trade and progression towards a future UK-US Free Trade Agreement, as well as agreeing to work to reopen travel and reaffirming our commitment to the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.

Yesterday, writing in The Times the Prime Minister set out the UK’s ambitions for the G7, highlighting that this is the moment for the world’s greatest and most technologically advanced democracies to shoulder their responsibilities and vaccinate the world, whilst also strengthening the political and economic ties with our friends around the world.

This new era of cooperation with our closest ally is a testament to the importance of our relationship for protecting our people, creating jobs at home, and promoting our values around the world, tackling shared challenges as we build back better from coronavirus.

For more information on the Prime Minister’s meeting with President Biden: 10 June 2021, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-meeting-with-president-biden-10-june-2021.

UK to donate 100 million coronavirus vaccine doses

The Government also announced as the G7 Summit begins that the UK will donate 100 million surplus coronavirus vaccine doses to the world within the next year, and we will ask fellow G7 nations to make similar pledges, so that together we can vaccinate the world and build back better from coronavirus.

Growing evidence shows that the COVID-19 vaccine reduces the spread of the virus and reduces the risk of illness or death from it, and since the start of this pandemic we have led the way in efforts to protect people across the world from this deadly disease. That is why the Government is now donating 100 million surplus vaccines to the world within the next year, with five million doses to be donated by the end of September for the world’s poorest countries, and a further 95 million doses within the next year (with 80% of doses going to COVAX and the remainder being shared bilaterally with countries in need), and today G7 leaders are expected to announce they will provide at least one billion doses to the world.

By vaccinating more people around the world we will help to end to the global coronavirus pandemic, and we will reduce the risk to people in the UK as we lead the way in building back better from coronavirus.

For more information on the Government’s commitment to donate 100 million surplus coronavirus vaccine doses to the world within the next year, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-to-donate-100-million-coronavirus-vaccine-doses.