News story

PM phone call with President Obama

The Prime Minister called President Obama on Monday to discuss a range of foreign policy priorities.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The Prime Minister has spoken with President Obama.

A Downing Street spokesman said:

The Prime Minister called President Obama on Monday to discuss a range of foreign policy priorities.

The President welcomed the Prime Minister’s leadership on Somalia. They agreed on the importance of next week’s London conference, at a time when the world had the best possibility in a decade to make progress in Somalia and tackle the problems of piracy, terrorism, conflict, poverty and famine there.

On Syria, the leaders expressed disappointment at the Russian and Chinese vetoes of the draft United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) on 4 February. They agreed on the need for international unity against the regime’s attacks on its own citizens, including further action at the UN and a broad and strong coalition in the new Friends of Syria group. They discussed the possibility of increasing the pressure on the Assad regime through additional sanctions.

 ”On Afghanistan, they reiterated their commitment to the Lisbon agreement that provides for Afghan security forces to take on full responsibility for security in Afghanistan by the end of 2014. They agreed to work towards the NATO Summit in Chicago in May on the plans for transition, on support to Afghan forces after 2014, and on NATO’s role in Afghanistan after 2014.

 ”The leaders also discussed the eurozone economy and the need for a sustainable and credible plan to ensure the financial stability of the euro.

Published 14 February 2012