US President Barack Obama yesterday tried to limit the fallout from Britain’s vote to leave the European Union, which threatens to harm the US economic recovery, derail his trade agenda and distract US allies from global security issues.
Obama said he was sure Britain’s exit from the EU would be orderly and vowed that Washington would maintain both its “special relationship” with London and close ties to Brussels.
“While the UK’s relationship with the EU will change, one thing that will not change is the special relationship that exists between our two nations. That will endure,” he told an event at Stanford University, referring to close ally Britain. “The EU will remain one of our indispensable partners,” Obama said.
He spoke to outgoing British Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel after the stunning result of Thursday’s referendum.
Obama vowed that the United States and Britain would “stay focused on ensuring economic growth and financial stability”.
Obama had warned during a visit to London in April against Brexit, or Britain’s exit from the EU, in an unusually strong intervention into British politics.