Kerry to visit Brussels, London for talks on UK’s EU exit

Citing the need to address the threat from Islamic State and conflicts from Libya to Syria, U.S Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday that the United States, European Union and Britain must cooperate closely despite Britain’s decision to leave the EU.

After gathering with Netanyahu in the morning, he will fly to Brussels to discuss Europe’s situation with European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

“I think it is absolutely essential that we stay focused on how in this transitional period no one loses their head, nobody goes off half-cocked, people don’t start ginning up scatterbrained or revengeful premises”, he said.

“We have enormous confidence in the quality of leadership on both sides of the channel”, Kerry said.

But it’s unclear what more Kerry, or the US, can say or do right now to help Britain or the EU.

Kerry arrived in Rome on Sunday for scheduled talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Kerry said the United States “values” its relations with Britain regardless of the referendum result, further calling on Brussels to address concerns of people in other countries.

European leaders will embark this week on a frantic drive to push Britain for a quick divorce, with top U.S. diplomat John Kerry rushing to join discussions as the “Brexit” crisis goes global.

The Obama administration has been supportive of Brussels’ push for a more assertive foreign policy, embracing a key role for the E.U.in initiatives like the Iran nuclear talks and International Syria Support Group – alongside and in addition to those played by individual traditional allies like Britain, France and Germany.

The United States is also responding to the historic vote in the UK.

From Brussels, Kerry will continue to London to see Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and other officials from outgoing British Prime Minister David Cameron’s government.

Britain’s exit negotiations are likely to be a complicated, protracted affair, and there is no guarantee of a smooth breakup.

In Brussels, Kerry also met NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and stressed the importance of the military alliance in the face of the British vote.

But Cameron, who has said he will resign by October and leave the negotiations to his successor, is to be left out in the cold on the second day of the summit on Wednesday when the other 27 European Union leaders meet without him.