Obama says UK relationship endures despite Brexit

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks about Brexit at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, June 24, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

PALO ALTO, Calif. (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday tried to limit the fallout from Britain's vote to leave the European Union, which threatens to harm the U.S. economic recovery, derail his trade agenda and distract U.S. allies from global security issues.

Obama, who had argued passionately against Britain leaving the EU in a trip to the country this year, vowed that Washington would still maintain both its "special relationship" with London and close ties to Brussels.