British Prime Minister Keir Starmer strode off the plane when he arrived in the US for talks with President Joe Biden. Photo: NYT

The joint statement said Iran continued to bring instability to the region through its proliferation of advanced weaponry, alongside providing financial and political support to its partners, including Lebanese Hizballah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other groups in Iraq and Syria. Both agreed that Iran’s nuclear program had never been more advanced and posed a clear threat to regional and global peace and security.

Both the United States and United Kingdom underlined their support for Israel’s security and the importance of avoiding any escalatory action in the region which would undermine the prospect for peace and progress towards a two-state solution.  

In that regard, they affirmed their shared commitment to securing a political agreement for a lasting security solution along the Blue Line that will allow Israeli and Lebanese civilians on both sides to return to their homes with safety and security. They discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza and reiterated calls for all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and for Israel to facilitate the flow of aid, including ensuring the UN and humanitarian partners can deliver their operations safely.  

The United States and United Kingdom reaffirmed their commitment to continue their Indo-Pacific Dialogue and pledged to explore new opportunities to coordinate approaches, work with others to support a free and open region and oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.

Both emphasized the need to respect the law of the sea as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.  They restated the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.