John Kerry: Special Relationship with UK ‘Strong,’ ‘Crucial’

Speaking in London alongside his British counterpart, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reassured reporters Monday of the “strong” and “crucial” relationship between the U.S. and U.K.

“I’m here in this great capital city … in the aftermath of last week’s vote to underscore the unbreakable bond that exists between the United States and the United Kingdom,” Kerry said.

Kerry’s remarks follow a series of high-level meetings in both Brussels and London with European Union officials regarding last week’s “Brexit” vote.

Earlier Monday, Kerry met with E.U. foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in Brussels. Speaking at a news conference afterward, Kerry said, “It is absolutely essential that we stay focused on how, in this transitional period, nobody loses their head, nobody goes off half-cocked, people don’t start ginning up scatterbrained or revengeful premises.”

Prior to last week’s “Brexit” vote, both Secretary Kerry and President Obama had publicly supported the U.K. Remain campaign. On Sunday, speaking to reporters in Rome, Kerry said the U.S. was disappointed in the U.K.’s decision to leave, but that the U.S. would work on a “sensible thoughtful” transition with both the EU and the U.K. to keep both “moving in the right direction.”