The UK and US have announced a new partnership that will focus on strengthening the countries' collaboration in the development of emerging technologies, following US president Joe Biden's visit to the UK.
The partnership, which has been agreed by president Biden and prime minister Boris Johnson under the newly-revived Atlantic Charter, will create new jobs within the technology and science sector, as well as increase the cyber security and safety of UK and US citizens.
The agreement also covers artificial intelligence (AI), the use of data in supporting economic growth, quantum technologies, as well as 6G connectivity.
Both UK and US officials will collaborate on developing the partnership over the course of the next year, with business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng describing the US as "our closest ally and most important research partner".
"The landmark new partnership announced today will deepen those all-important ties and ensure Anglo-American research can continue to develop new technologies to generate wealth and prosperity for the good of mankind for generations to come," he said, adding that the partnership will "address some of humanity's greatest challenges, from antimicrobial resistance to preparing for future pandemics".
As part of the meeting between the two leaders, Biden and Johnson have also agreed to take steps to tackle the evolving threats of the 21st century, including cyber warfare.
Commenting on the announcement, home secretary Priti Patel said that "bolstering" the two nation's "security cooperation" will lead to the US and UK being able to "better combat terrorism, tackle illicit finance, dismantle the serious and organised crime groups who operate across our borders, and go after the individuals who prey on the most vulnerable in society, including our children".
The agreement follows Biden's warning issued towards Russia earlier this week, in which he said that the US "will respond in a robust and meaningful way if the Russian government engages in harmful activities".
Russian-backed hackers have been blamed for orchestrating recent cyber attacks on JBS Foods, Colonial Pipeline, as well as last year's SolarWinds hack, which notably saw cyber criminals access email accounts belonging to the Trump administration's head of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
