King Charles III of the United Kingdom on Tuesday called for reconciliation between his country and the U.S. amid tensions between Keir Starmer’s Labour government and Donald Trump’s administration during a historic speech on Capitol Hill to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.
The speech, which lasted less than half an hour and was delivered before both Houses of Congress, is one of the central events of the state visit of Charles III and Queen Camilla, the first that the royal couple has made to the United States since their coronation. The trip takes place at a time when the relationship between Washington and London, one of the strongest in the last century, is going through one of its lowest levels due to Trump’s constant criticism of Starmer, especially for his refusal to get militarily involved in the U.S.-initiated Iran war.
Message of reconciliation
Trump was not in Congress, but, under the gaze of the vice president, JD Vance, the British monarch did not dodge the thorny issues.
He stressed the importance of maintaining the Washington-London alliance, which, he said, is “one of the most momentous in human history.”
The king stressed that the two countries share “a history of reconciliation, renewal and an extraordinary partnership.”
During a speech that is the first to be delivered by a British monarch since Elizabeth II in 1991.
At the time, Charles III’s mother extolled the close relationship between the two countries after the United Kingdom supported the United States in the Gulf War.
The current situation is different, but the monarch gave a message of unity:
“I pray with all my heart that our alliance will continue to uphold our shared values.”
“Together with our partners in Europe, the Commonwealth and around the world, and that we ignore calls for isolation” (Filed as: Charles III speech USA).
Charles III defends NATO, supports Ukraine and condemns violence
He also broke a lance in favor of NATO, an organization that Trump has threatened to leave after failing to intervene in the Strait of Hormuz.
“NATO is committed to mutual defense,” he said.
He recalled that the Alliance first activated Article 5 after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
He also urged the United States to maintain support for Ukraine vis-à-vis Russia, at a time when this conflict is no longer grabbing headlines.
The speech was drafted by the British Government and not by Buckingham Palace, although Charles III set his own tone, with several comments of British humor.
The Capitol was armored by a reinforced security device, a few days after the assassination attempt against Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, an event that Charles III strongly condemned.
(Filed under: Carlos III speech USA).
These violent acts will never succeed
King Charles III
Does Trump lower the tension?
Trump, a lover of the British monarchy, also seemed willing to lower tensions when he received in the morning with the first lady, Melania, the king and queen.
With a pompous ceremony of honor in the White House gardens, with cannon salutes and the overflight of fighter jets.
In the face of gray skies that threatened rain, Trump joked about the “beautiful British day.”
He assured that the English are the “closest friends” of the Americans and, about Charles III, whom he described as a “very elegant man,” he went so far as to say that his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, “was in love” with the monarch.
The day, which will conclude with a gala dinner at the White House, was marked by gestures of closeness and symbolism.
Both in the ceremony and in a subsequent exchange of gifts.
Among them a replica of the Oval Office desk plans that the monarch gave to Trump.
The case of the pedophile Jeffrey Epstein is hovering over the state visit in the wake of the investigation into Prince Andrew, brother of Charles III.
The kings, however, will not meet with the victims during their trip (Filed under: Charles III speech USA).
With information from EFE
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