King Charles III Addresses U.S. Congress: "Alliance Shared Values Are Vital, Isolationism Must Not Be Heeded"

Emphasis on Continued Support for Ukraine
Expectations for Stronger Transatlantic Alliance

Reuters Yonhap News

On April 28 (local time), King Charles III of the United Kingdom, who is on a state visit to the United States, delivered a speech at the U.S. Congress emphasizing the importance of defending the shared values of the alliance. In light of recent signs of strain in the transatlantic alliance—including the possibility that the United States may withdraw from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)—his remarks are being interpreted as a message stressing the need for Western countries to maintain their alliances.

According to CNN, King Charles III stated in his address to both houses of the U.S. Congress that "I sincerely pray that our alliance will continue to uphold our shared values," adding, "And I hope you will not heed calls to become increasingly isolationist." He continued, "The challenges we currently face are too great for any one nation to handle alone," and stressed, "Western countries must defend our common values."

King Charles III also emphasized the importance of the alliance among the United States, the United Kingdom, and European countries, as well as the need to ensure continued support for Ukraine. "Whatever our differences or disagreements may be, we are united in our promise to defend democracy," he said, adding, "To secure a just and lasting peace, unwavering resolve is needed to stand by Ukraine and its brave people."

King Charles III went on to describe Congress as "the fortress of democracy," explained that British and American law share the same roots, and reiterated the importance of the principle of separation of powers. He noted, "Britain's Magna Carta has been cited in more than 160 U.S. Supreme Court rulings since 1789," and stated, "The executive branch is subject to checks and balances." These remarks were met with applause from members of the U.S. Democratic Party.

Regarding the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner attended by U.S. President Donald Trump, King Charles III stated, "Acts of violence will never succeed."

This marks the first time in 35 years that a British monarch has addressed the U.S. Congress, the last occasion being Queen Elizabeth II in 1991, shortly after the Gulf War. There are expectations that this speech will not only help improve the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom, which has been strained since the Iran War, but also strengthen the ties of the transatlantic alliance between the United States and Europe.

Meanwhile, President Trump responded at the welcoming ceremony for King Charles III at the White House by saying, "For centuries after winning our independence, there has been no closer friend to Americans than the United Kingdom."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.