U.S. Secretary of State reaffirms close U.S.-British ties after Brexit

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said here on Tuesday that he wants to reaffirm the special and unbreakable ties uniting the United States and Britain, as he visited London for the first time after Britain's vote to leave the European Union.

"The United States of America depends on a strong United Kingdom. We mean united and it depends on an engaged United Kingdom," Kerry told a joint press conference with his newly-appointed British counterpart Boris Johnson in London.

Kerry said the United States also depends on a close relationship with the EU. He said America wants the smoothest possible transition to Brexit and a collaborative EU-British relationship.

He said he was encouraged by what he heard from British Prime Minister Theresa May and Johnson, as May has assured him Britain still intends to play a leading role in global affairs.

Stressing that there has not been a time when the world has faced so many global challenges, Kerry said he had discussed with Johnson issues about Syria, Ukraine, the Middle East, Turkey, the climate change agreement and Iran.

For his part, Johnson welcomed Kerry to London. He said the special relationship between the United States and Britain remains strong and vital.

Johnson said he wants to reshape Britain's profile. He said the British government has to implement Brexit, stressing that Brexit will not mean Britain's leaving Europe.

"It is not to close ourselves off or to become any less internationalist," said the secretary, adding that Britain should become "more outward-looking, more free trading, do more deals around the world."

Later this evening, the two officials will hold talks on Syria with European ministers and discuss the conflict in Yemen with foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Endit