LONDON, Oct 26, 2022 (AFP) – US President Joe Biden told new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak — Britain’s third leader in two months — that “the UK remains America’s closest ally”, in a phone call on Tuesday, Downing Street said.

“The leaders discussed the extent of UK-US cooperation, both bilaterally and in regions such as the Indo-Pacific,” Sunak’s office said, while noting they also discussed the more contentious issue of Northern Ireland.

The trans-Atlantic allies will meet in-person at a G20 Summit in Indonesia next month.