FULTON -- Westminster College hosted a U.K. dignitary Tuesday amid ongoing international conversations about Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
U.K. Minister of State for Europe and North America James Cleverly visited America's National Churchill Museum on Tuesday and spoke in front of remains of the Berlin Wall housed outside the museum.
"It is wonderful to see the legacy of Winston Churchill live on so powerfully on this side of the Atlantic," he said. "This college, this museum, stands as a permanent reminder of what we can achieve when we stick together, just as Winston Churchill said we should."
Cleverly visited Missouri on the second day of his four-day visit to the U.S. On Monday, he was in Washington, D.C. with additional stops planned in Chicago and Minnesota.
Along with visiting America's National Churchill Museum on the Westminster College campus, Cleverly visited the Missouri House of Representatives, Gov. Mike Parson and Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe.
Just over 76 years ago, Churchill visited Westminster to give his now famous Iron Curtain speech in the immediate aftermath of World War II.
In that speech, Cleverly said, Churchill highlighted the special relationship between the U.S and U.K.
"It stressed the need for us to act as guardians of peace and stability against the menace of what was then Soviet communism, which had been lowered as an iron curtain across Europe," he said. "Now, times have changed since then. But the Transatlantic Partnership is more important than ever and our governments need to do more together now as two great nations, defenders of peace, then perhaps any other time in my life.
"We are close allies when it comes to defending freedom and democracy, not just in our own countries, but around the world."
Cleverly said Russia's "barbaric" invasion of Ukraine is a prime example of where the U.S. and U.K. need to come together with a clear and joint response.
"Together, we are making (Russian President Vladimir) Putin pay the price for his actions and we are demonstrating the strength of opposition to his criminal aggression," he said.
About a month ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the British Parliament in a speech, which Cleverly said echoed Churchill's speech.
Zelenskyy has also been compared to Churchill by numerous officials based on the leadership he's demonstrated during this time of conflict.
"My Prime Minister Boris Johnson compared the Ukrainian president with Winston Churchill for his bravery in the leadership of his nation during this time of conflict," Cleverly said. "I'm sure we all share the prime minister's admiration for the courage and dignity shown not just by President Zelenskyy himself, but by the Ukrainian people. Together Britain, America and our allies will continue to support them in the face of this brutal assault."
Sandra L. and Monroe E. Trout Director and Chief Curator Tim Riley said he feels Cleverly's remarks on Russia's invasion of Ukraine should be on everyone's mind.
"I think, as he said, the special relationship between the U.K. and the United States is one that can help in this crisis as it has so many times before," he said. "That's encouraging. I think all of us here at Westminster and in Fulton should be proud that once again, we're on the world stage."
Rep. Derek Grier, R- Chesterfield, the inaugural chair of the Friends of the U.K. Caucus, noted the importance of international relationships amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its economic fallout.
"We started this a couple years ago, made some tremendous progress in building a relationship between the House and the United Kingdom," Grier said. "Given the state of international events, this is a tremendously important relationship. It's good to have friends and allies who we can trade with, who we share rich history with, and who can help us fight evil when it rears its ugly head as we are seeing right now in the world."
While the conflict was a key point of conversation, Cleverly also spoke on U.S. and U.K. relations in other areas. Last year, the countries revitalized the Atlantic Charter, originally signed by Churchill and President Franklin Roosevelt.
That charter, Cleverly said, reaffirms the two countries' commitment to working together in areas other than defense such as opportunities for innovators and businesses.
"It sets out our vision to deepen cooperation in many other areas of science and innovation, economic prosperity and the battle against climate change," he said. "We continue to work together to make that vision a reality."
Missouri has a role to play in those efforts, he said.
While speaking at the Missouri House before coming to Westminster on Tuesday, Cleverly named the agricultural technology, food production and manufacturing sectors as major exports from the Show Me State to his country.
"We've been talking about agricultural technology, making sure that we work with you guys and our scientists help develop drought resistant crops or higher yield crops, disease resistant crops," he said. "We're reminded that food security is important. There's real expertise here in Missouri, there's real expertise back in the U.K. and getting those guys to work together is good news for everybody."
He told reporters after his speech and a short tour of the museum part of the goal of his trip is to show the American people the U.K. sees the entirety of the country.
"In the U.K., the foreign secretary, my boss, is very keen that the U.K.-U.S. relationship isn't just about New York and Washington," he said. "That's why I'm here in Missouri. I'm going across to Illinois. I'm going to be in Minnesota as well as DC to show America that we recognize it's a big place with lots of opportunity."
U.K. Minister of State for Europe and North America James Cleverly speaks Tuesday at the Berlin Wall monument outside of America's National Churchill Museum. MICHAEL SHINE/FULTON SUN
U.K. Minister of State for Europe and North America James Cleverly visits with Westminster College students in front of the Berlin Wall monument after his speech Tuesday. MICHAEL SHINE/FULTON SUN