Obama says U.S. respects United Kingdom decision to leave EU

The United States is reacting cautiously to the decision by Britain’s voters to bolt the 28-nation European Union, with a White House official saying only that President Barack Obama is being kept up to date on developments. Obama had strongly urged that the United Kingdom remain in the European Union, and the decision is a significant blow to his efforts to counter the isolationist viewpoints taking hold in many parts of the world. “David has been an outstanding friend and partner on the global stage”.

“We agreed that our economic and financial teams will remain in close contact as we stay focused on ensuring economic growth and financial stability”, the USA president said.

Barack Obama reassured UK Prime Minister David Cameron that the special relationship between the two nations and Britain’s North Atlantic Treaty Organisation membership would continue to be fundamental to U.S. policies.

“Our shared values including our commitment to democracy and pluralism and opportunity for all people in a globalised world – that will continue to unite all of us”, Obama said.

Barack Obama and Angela Merkel agreed to reiterate commitment to strong North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ties following Brexit during the upcoming alliance summit in Poland, the White House said in a press release on Friday.

Before Obama visited the United Kingdom in April, he wrote an op-ed for the Telegraph newspaper encouraging it to remain in the EU.

“The United Kingdom’s membership in North Atlantic Treaty Organisation remains a vital cornerstone of USA foreign, security, and economic policy”, Obama said.